20 Dec 2013

Done Deal: LFC to sign €17m 'superhero' attacker in Jan. Coutinho or Assaidi mk 2...?

Liverpool continue to be linked with a January move for FC Basel star Mohamed Salah, and the evidence supporting the possibility of a January LFC move for the Egyptian attacker just keeps on coming.

Last week, Salah's Agent was spotted at Anfield; this week, multiple reports from reputable sources claimed that Liverpool are planning a €14m January offer, and today, Salah's former team-mate (and close friend), Mohamed Zika, insists that the deal is done.

When asked on Egyptian TV whether Salah is joining Liverpool, Zika said:

"Yes, I am 99% sure this [a move to Anfield] will happen. He makes us and all of Egypt proud. Everybody talks about Mohamed Salah now – and aside from that he’s my friend. I’m very happy for him."

Salah recently told reporters that he wants to play 'for one of the best teams in the world', and named Real Madrid, Manchester United and Chelsea as his 'favourites'. Well, if Zika is correct, then it seems that Salah is having a change of heart. Perhaps Liverpool's superb form (including the recent 5-0 annihilation of Spurs) in the Premier League this season is enough to convince Salah that the Reds are heading in the right direction.

What young, ambitious player wouldn't want to be part of LFC's ongoing revolution? Who wouldn't want to play alongside the likes of Luis Suarez** and Steven Gerrard? Plus, as if anyone needs reminding, Liverpool FC *is* one of the 'best teams in the world'.

The transfer fee appears to have risen, however. Over the last month, €14m is the widely reported figure for Salah's services, but according to multiple sources today, Liverpool will have to fork out €17m to seal the deal, which (IMO) seems a tad excessive.

Having said that, Salah is already earning accolades, which may be pushing up his price. In early December, the Swiss football federation named him the 'best player in the league' for 2013. During the ceremony, the official presenting the award called Salah a 'superhero for Basel’s supporters'.

He may be a 'superhero' for Egypt (have 17 goals and 10 assists in 26 games), but his creative return for Basel is less impressive. This season, Salah has 9 goals and ZERO assists in 28 appearances, which - for me - is a slight concern. The Egyptian is an extremely skilful player, but if he can't consistently create goals in the Swiss league, is that likely to changein the Premier League?

Ultimately, it could go one of two ways: Salah could be like Coutinho, and take the league by storm, or LFC could have another Oussama Assaidi situation on its hands.

** Yes, I know I got it wrong over Suarez's contract. Get over it already :-) [It's just a ploy to raise his buyout clause. Wait for the summer - the speculation will rise again, and if LFC don't qualify for the CL, beware...]



Author:


53 comments:

  1. if lfc don´t qualif hes out - and i think everybody knows that ;-)

    about salah: hes a good player i´d welcome him here

    ReplyDelete
  2. jaimie sooo negative but have to say salah far too expensive better players out there suarez will go but for a world record fee in the summer after getting us back in the CL

    ReplyDelete
  3. 17 is too much and i got a bad feeling about Salah. I think this is mistake by Rodgers.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Maybe he has less assists because he wants to sell himself with goals...
    Looks good,though the pricetag seem to be too big..

    ReplyDelete
  5. He would be perfect for us, plus we can take preety much the same money for one of our cb's- and one willprobably leave..

    ReplyDelete
  6. I liked all the video I saw of him...great composure and he is very fast. Any ther good news out there? He can't be the only guy we plan to sign.

    ReplyDelete
  7. By the way, remember all the interviews from BR we hated saying we were tremendoulsy awesome? I think he peruaded our players...

    ReplyDelete
  8. ** I think we all pretty much agree on that. I couldn't begrudge him a move to a top EUROPEAN Side, if we somehow don't manage to qualify ourselves! At least he is willing to help is achieve that target and if we do, he'll stay. Which is what most of us asked of him anyway!
    YNWA
    EVER!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I think he'll be happy to stay if/when we qualify. Especially if we can get in one or two really good signings at the least...
    YNWA
    EVER!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'm sure there is a Champion League clause. The clause Suarez claimed existed before will now be included undoubtedly. But come on guys don't be negative celebrate and look forward to a CL run next year with Suarez in the team. Be positive!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Dropping chapel would be sacrilegious.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Is it really 17m for Salah? Other sources quote between 10m and 14m

    ReplyDelete
  13. Flanno is the replacement for Glen Johnson. Time to cash in on him his value and salary far outweigh his contribution. A class left back is definitely needed. Unload Johnson and Enrique in the summer.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I do not believe it is 17m

    ReplyDelete
  15. Please not Berbatov. Go all out for Mata.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Strengthen mid-field this Jan. There is not enough time to make excellent signings in this window. Be conservative and sign 1 or 2 only then qualify for CL and go all out in the summer.

    ReplyDelete
  17. He will 100% not be a LFC player if no CL. 100% staying if there is. This is the clause Suarez always wanted and I'm damn sure it's there this time.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Who is the Fernando fella from Porto? Any good? He's a DM.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Now go get Rakitic also please.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I think those "assist" figures would greatly improve playing alongside the likes of Studge and Louis Suarez, also brings in a whole new box of tricks to the P.L. At todays inflated prices 17 m euros is a steal for this guy .

    ReplyDelete
  21. YES. Going forward he's ok but defensively IMO he's a liability. There's better out there and his sale value is probably at its peak right now.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Agree Mata would make the difference between 3rd or 4th and a top 2 finish. We can win the prem if we take at least a point from Man C. I'm sure we will beat Chelsea and revenge against Arsenal in the return is very likely.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Jaimie, just remember that stats don't always tell the whole story. He may have 0 assists, but he could have a bloody awful striker on the end of his final balls too.

    ReplyDelete
  24. He looks very likely to arrive and would be a superb signing!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  25. 17 goals in 27 games for Egypt!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Plus Salah has the pleasure of playing with players like Philipp Degen (remember him) in the FC Basel team :-o

    ReplyDelete
  27. It wouldn't be his first neither. As for his stats, he's scored 19 in 47 league games for Basel. That's one in three from midfield. For our current attacking midfielders that would mean they would score 13 goals a season. I don't think many of them do. You never know with these guys what will happen but I do feel he would improve what is already there. Him and Phil from the outside and Suarez through the middle from behind Sturridge seems pretty dangerous to me.

    ReplyDelete
  28. For once I agree with Lawro. We need someone who can provide us with a push for the last six months. Someone to take over when, Fowler forbid, Suarez gets injured additional to Sturridge or if Sturridge's injury takes longer than expected to provide rest for Suarez. We can then find a permanent solution in the summer but that will be easier with a CL...sorry...league title in our pocket

    ReplyDelete
  29. If he will be ready to work on his game and improve then he will be an asset, but i doubt his mentality. The no assist stat sums it up for me really with what i think of him at the moment, and the big room for improvement. Wingers are just not that great. I never liked wingers that much. I did like Babel though.
    Anyway theres the swiss leauge and the pl, he might not be such a messi in the pl and then he wont pass the ball.
    BUT, maybe playing next to Suarez, Sturridge, Gerrard, Coutinho will do him good. Up to him to become complete as they call it really. Hope he makes it.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Walcott is great 'winger' but that's rare. When you think about Sturridge and Suarez are better on the wing than most wingers while they are strikers. Same thing with attacking midfielders, when on the wings they do better than wingers. But when i think about it again now, Salah actually does justifies his wing position and the term itself, which is rare, so that's a huge positive - he just gotta get the passing dimension going going with that.

    ReplyDelete
  31. His fantastic, and costumed made for BR's style of play. I would prefer Matic, but i would never mind Fernando. Him and another midfielder and we improve massively.

    ReplyDelete
  32. he his the contrast of benayoun. Feels like a rafa singing

    ReplyDelete
  33. I like it when he kisses the ground. Hopefully we get it at his debut.
    Surly he is better than Assaidi and Moses. Very exited to see how we develop with Salah.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Oh btw, Cardiff in couple of hours. here is what i would love to see:


    -----------------Migno-----------------
    Ilori------Skrtel---Sakho----Flanno
    ----------------Lucas------------------
    -----------Allen----------Hendo------
    Alberto-----------------------Countiho
    ----------------Suarez------------------

    ReplyDelete
  35. I have seen Salah play 3 times, he destroyed the full back each time, and i said to myself, wow if only we could get that guy, here's hoping this rumour is true.

    ReplyDelete
  36. I think sterling deserves another start he was awesome against spurs. Alberto should be substituted second half (but a little bit earlier). Ilori at rb? Good shout he deserves a game and this one could be perfect on him - but it's depending on wether bellamy is playing or not, don't want a teenager to face the nutter

    ReplyDelete
  37. Well lets hope so :)

    ReplyDelete
  38. From that video, he reminds me of Ronaldinho - his gait, dominant left foot, movement and range of passing. He's been dubbed the "Egyptian Messi" but that's probably down to his ability and not anything to do with characteristics. I'll have him in a red shirt - better than Moses as he appears to know what he's doing!

    ReplyDelete
  39. We already have Aspas and Borini. Why another striker? Can we please go for a RB? We can figure out a striker in the summer. More concerned that this guy turns out to be another dud.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Philipp Degen you..........................say? sorry i had to throw up in the middle there.
    What are the odds he put a good word in for us? lol

    ReplyDelete
  41. im not sure if BR will really look to strengthen RB.
    I mean we have GJ and Kelly is on the bench alot aswell as Flanno making into the starting 11 he could always be used at RB and also Wisdom is apparently tearing it up with Derby so at the end of the season he may be our option to replace GJ.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Thats exactly what i was thinking. Who is out there that would fit the bill?

    ReplyDelete
  43. i still have my hopes for borini tbh :)

    ReplyDelete
  44. Word has it that Salah is very keen on joining LFC. Degen is quite honestly one of the worst right backs we have ever had.

    ReplyDelete
  45. There is going to be loads of competition in our front 3 next season. Borini is still very young but he is going to have to really step up his game. I want him to have a future at Anfield too.

    ReplyDelete
  46. He gave them trouble troughout the whole match, might be a good signing..

    ReplyDelete
  47. dropping sterling after his best game of the season so far would be idiotic imo

    ReplyDelete
  48. So if he underperformstoday, which is not unlikely, whou shoud start vs Chelsea?

    ReplyDelete
  49. Hey, now that we may be talking a third striker...Danny Ings did score #12 today to go with 3 assists now. Will Hughes is stuck at 3 assists

    ReplyDelete
  50. I heard his release close is 130 mill(in pounds) for a domestic club, and 100 for foreign if we get the top 4, and in case we dont, the price is same lousy 40 mil. Is that true, do you know?

    ReplyDelete
  51. Just saw this.
    Sorry Jamie boy, no way will I let you get away with that.
    You said we were better off WITHOUT Suarez as a team DESPITE his genius. You showed stats which you claimed supported that view. I never said you denied his abilities. I said you were wrong in how those abilities would impact the team. I said the facts you cited were irrelevant, and they WERE.
    Please kindly desist from misrepresenting my views on this issue

    ReplyDelete