3 Dec 2013

Transfer Boost: LFC chase 'perfect' €24m star hailed as the 'Egyptian Pele'

In his pre-Norwich press conference yesterday, Liverpool boos Brendan Rodgers claimed that he will be able to 'go out and get' players during the January transfer window, and the latest name linked with an imminent move to Anfield is Egyptian attacker Mohamed Salah, who is also being tracked by Tottenham Hotspur.

In his press conference on Monday, Rodgers told reporters:

"“Every window for us will be exactly the same. If there’s a player we think can improve our squad, and in particular the team, we will be able to go out and get that player”

According to The Mirror this week:

"Liverpool boss [Brendan Rodgers] has identified FC Basel’s talented Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah as a January target to keep the momentum going".

Spurs technical director Franco Baldini reportedly watched Salah - ludicrously nicknamed the 'Egyptian Pele' - score in last week's Champions League game with Chelsea, but unfortunately for Liverpool and Spurs, it appears that the 21-year old attacker has his heart set on a move to a club he considers to be one of the world's elite. He told Sky Sports last week:

"I'm very proud to have scored two goals against Chelsea. I want to play for one of the best teams in the world. My favourites are Real Madrid, Manchester United and Chelsea."

Salah - who is unproven outside the Swiss League - has 18 goals in 75 games for Basel, but is that enough to justify his alleged €24m price tag?

If Liverpool are going to spend big money in January, it should be on proven, experienced players capable of making an immediate impact on the team. Also, as a general rule, Rodgers should steer clear of any players identified by Spurs' recruitment team (!) The London club's transfer business over the summer has proven to be poor so far, with players like Nacer Chadli, Roberto Soldado and Erik Lamela failing to make much of an impact.

Having said that, 17 goals in 26 games for the Egypt national team is certainly impressive, and Egypt's American coach Bob Bradley is convinced that Salah is destined for big things. He told reporters in September:

“Salah is the future of Egyptian football. He is a perfect professional player both on and off the pitch, and he will play a great role in guiding us to the World Cup finals.”

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is also a fan, and after Chelsea's defeat to Basel last week, he enthused:

"They [Basel] were very difficult to play against, and he [Salah] is a very good player, and very fast too.”

Tottenham 'keeper Brad Friedel also praised Salah after Spurs' 2-2 Europa League draw with Basel in April. He noted:

"Basel set up to hit us on the counterattack and they did that really effectively. I thought their right-winger Salah posed us a lot of problems. In the second half he did a great job of keeping possession for the team."



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7 comments:

  1. Decent player 24m is way too much so not at that price

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  2. 12 million tops

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  3. Very good player, but 24M is way too much IMO.


    Would certainly claim a 1st team spot with us based on his recent form.

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  4. You have to wonder when a youtube video is made with the intention of putting together the players best bits and you are left thinking he doesn't even look all that good.

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  5. As an example watch a video on Assaidi.

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  6. This is the make or break time for Liverpool and if we're to have any slight chance of signing the top cream then we have to be in the top 4 when the window opens because that's the only chance for us to sign unsettled or top dogs who want a step up or a change in environment.

    But, we're out of luck and going by the Hull game which disgusted me to an extent that I didn't even know what to be pi$$ed off about. Lets cross our fingers and hope that it was an off day for the whole team and it will give them the required shake-up for the upcoming matches against the top 4 teams.

    On another note it was good to see BR coming out and accepting it was his fault that we lost to Hull rather than trying to defend the team and slammed them.

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  7. he is top quality. for his age, considering he grabs a lot of assists and scores in European games against top teams and hes currently on form, 18-25M should be what his value is. surely if sakho is worth 18M hes worth abit more. he also possesses crucial attributes in the modern game of football. low centre of gravity, close control, vision, electric pace(so important in the PL) and link-up play. hes only 21, and I think in our current team, he would be a fantastic addition. the team was playing very well when we had a left footed Right winger coming in on his left foot in Stewart Downing. only thing is Downing didn't have the quality that Salah would possess. I believe the team has relied a lot on Skrtel, Suarez and Sturridge this season and without them we would be in the bottom tbh. when the team was playing with Downing on the right, Coutinho centre, Hendo left and Sturridge up top were battering teams. even with out suarez. 6-0, 3-1, 5-0. the teams structure was very strong and Rodgers has changed it a lot this season. if not for the quality, our play has been pretty poor at times this season. bar the west brom and Fulham game. whereas last season, play was very good against all sides, including back-to-back games against city and arsenal, where only mistakes cost us. this season we were completely outplayed by arsenal, and im sure man city will outplay us too. especially if hull are. hopefully our quality, like from set-pieces, which we've been surviving off for a while now, will bring us through. but tbh the tika-taka Rodgers football hasn't been there this season.
    Mohamed Salah will do the trick. with Riberio as well and maybe were looking a more top 4 side. Nemanja matic will be needed as well but it depends how much is in the bank. but tbh LFC wont have a better chance than this too invest. now is the time. while were in the top 4
    --------------------------Mignolet
    --Montoya------Sakho-------Skrtel-------Enrique
    -----------------Matic---------Gerrard
    ---Salah------------------------------------Coutinho
    ---------------Suarez--------Sturridge
    dream team!
    LFC

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