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Premier League: Jurgen Klopp almost rejected Mohamed Salah

Premier League sensation Mohamed Salah was not actually Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp's first-choice signing in the summer transfer window.

By Prashanth Kumar
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool

Bengaluru, March 22: Premier League sensation Mohamed Salah was not actually Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp's first-choice signing in the summer transfer window, according to German media.

Salah has been outstanding for Liverpool with 28 goals in 30 apperances so far this season. Salah is now at a level where he is compared to Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi, thanks to his mazy runs with his left foot. Salah has also been instrumental in Liverpool's performance this season, where they two points adrift of second-placed Manchester United with 63 points and are also in the Champions League quarter-finals.

However, according to German media, the scenario would have been quite different if not for Michael Edwards, the sporting director of Liverpool FC. Edwards and the scouting staff at Liverpool forced Jurgen Klopp to buy Salah from AS Roma for £36.9 million.

According to reports, Salah was not Klopp’s first choice last summer. The German wanted to go for Bayer Leverkusen’s Julian Brandt for a transfer money of £21m, but the German winger turned down a move as he feared he wouldn't get enough game time at Liverpool. Brandt felt the move could jeopardize his chances of making it to the German national football team for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Klopp might have had a valid reason for not wanting Salah as his first choice, and it has a lot to do with the Egyptian’s stint at Chelsea. Compared to what he is today, you could say Salah flopped at Stamford Bridge as a winger - scoring only two goals in 19 appearances.

One can only wonder what would have happened if Edwards hadn't pushed for Salah over Brandt.

This season, Brandt has scored nine goals with six assists in 28 appearances, which is decent. But it does not compare to what Salah has achieved this season. Though Brandt could have played an important role in Liverpool’s trio, the likelihood of him leading the attack as Salah has done is very slim.

Salah has scored 37 goals and assisted his teammates 10 times in his 42 appearances across all competitions. His link-up play with Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane has made Liverpool one of the most devastating teams in Europe.

Salah has also been instrumental in helping Egypt qualify for the World Cup and Liverpool's run to the Champions League quarters, where they face Manchester City.

Story first published: Thursday, March 22, 2018, 16:08 [IST]
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