How quickly things change. Last night, Basel attacker Mohamed Salah seemed all set to sign for Liverpool, but in yet another display of transfer market incompetence, the Reds have lost out on the transfer to Chelsea.
Salah-to-Chelsea has quickly become one of football's worst kept secrets, and according to the Daily Mail a few minutes ago:
"Chelsea have signed FC Basle forward Mohamed Salah - hijacking Liverpool's bid for the man dubbed the 'Egyptian Messi'"
Salah's agent has also reportedly informed EuroSport that the Chelsea deal is on:
UPDATE: 15:50 - Chelsea have confirmed the deal on the club's official website. A statement reads:
"Chelsea Football Club can confirm an agreement has been reached with FC Basel for the transfer of their 21-year-old attacking midfielder Mohamed Salah. The move is subject to the Egyptian international agreeing personal terms and completing a medical examination".
The size of the transfer fee is unclear at this stage, but according to the Liverpool Echo today, Basel are believed to be holding out for £16m, a piffling price for Chelsea, but a seemingly insurmountable barrier for Liverpool.
UPDATE 2: 19:00 - BBC reports the transfer fee is actually £11m.
Serious questions need to be asked about Liverpool's transfer policy after this new fiasco:
* LFC seem to have been tracking Salah for months, yet when it comes to the crunch, Chelsea come out of nowhere and seal the deal in a couple of days. Why?
* Why wait till practically the end of the transfer window to make a move?
* Why haggle over the price? As the Reds have discovered in the past, going in on the cheap in a bid to undercut market value is not an effective strategy.
* Why didn't LFC anticipate late moves from other clubs? It seems that the club had an inflexible strategy and was completely unprepared for competition.
* LFC's squad is decimated by injury, and there's very little depth in attacking positions. As such, why is it such a problem for the Reds to pay £15m-£16m for a quality player who's absolutely required? FSG were happy to stump up €19m for Mamadou Sakho in the summer (not an essential purchase), but Salah is seemingly out of reach? It makes no sense.
Having said that, the only reason Salah would choose Chelsea over Liverpool is (IMO) money. He quite clearly has more chance of playing regularly at Anfield, but money talks, and it seems like Salah has a mercenary streak, which is the defining characteristic of most top-level professional footballers.
Transfers come and go, but if Liverpool don't sign anyone this transfer window, it will be utter negligence. After four years in the wilderness, the Reds are in a fantastic position to qualify for the Champions League this season, and further reinforcements are required to consolidate and strengthen the club's position in the top four.
People go on about LFC's alleged 'transfer committee', but in reality, that can only mean Rodgers, Ian Ayre, and probably several other coaches/subordinates. I doubt anyone from FSG is involved in the football side of things because - to coin a uniquely American phrase - they know jacksh*t about 'soccer'. As such, are we to believe that Ayre, the grey accountant, chooses LFC's transfer targets?
Give me a break!
Logically, Rodgers obviously has the most input, and when he took the LFC job, he specifically stipulated that he would not work under a Director of Football. I sincerely doubt that Rodgers would then accept a DoF-by-proxy in the form of Ayre, who has zero experience of managing a football team, let alone players.
FSG hold the purse strings, but Rodgers is responsible for the players that come to the club. The question then becomes why wouldn't FSG sanction significant funds to help Liverpool achieve its Champions League goal?
Could it possibly be that the group is dissatisfied with Rodgers' performance in last summer's transfer market? I personally feel it's a strong possibility, and in all honesty, after the manager's abject waste of transfer funds over the last year and a half, who can blame FSG for being cautious?
All is not lost, though. Remember, LFC just signed Dunkin' Donuts :-)
Author: Jaimie K
Salah-to-Chelsea has quickly become one of football's worst kept secrets, and according to the Daily Mail a few minutes ago:
"Chelsea have signed FC Basle forward Mohamed Salah - hijacking Liverpool's bid for the man dubbed the 'Egyptian Messi'"
Salah's agent has also reportedly informed EuroSport that the Chelsea deal is on:
UPDATE: 15:50 - Chelsea have confirmed the deal on the club's official website. A statement reads:
"Chelsea Football Club can confirm an agreement has been reached with FC Basel for the transfer of their 21-year-old attacking midfielder Mohamed Salah. The move is subject to the Egyptian international agreeing personal terms and completing a medical examination".
The size of the transfer fee is unclear at this stage, but according to the Liverpool Echo today, Basel are believed to be holding out for £16m, a piffling price for Chelsea, but a seemingly insurmountable barrier for Liverpool.
UPDATE 2: 19:00 - BBC reports the transfer fee is actually £11m.
Serious questions need to be asked about Liverpool's transfer policy after this new fiasco:
* LFC seem to have been tracking Salah for months, yet when it comes to the crunch, Chelsea come out of nowhere and seal the deal in a couple of days. Why?
* Why wait till practically the end of the transfer window to make a move?
* Why haggle over the price? As the Reds have discovered in the past, going in on the cheap in a bid to undercut market value is not an effective strategy.
* Why didn't LFC anticipate late moves from other clubs? It seems that the club had an inflexible strategy and was completely unprepared for competition.
* LFC's squad is decimated by injury, and there's very little depth in attacking positions. As such, why is it such a problem for the Reds to pay £15m-£16m for a quality player who's absolutely required? FSG were happy to stump up €19m for Mamadou Sakho in the summer (not an essential purchase), but Salah is seemingly out of reach? It makes no sense.
Having said that, the only reason Salah would choose Chelsea over Liverpool is (IMO) money. He quite clearly has more chance of playing regularly at Anfield, but money talks, and it seems like Salah has a mercenary streak, which is the defining characteristic of most top-level professional footballers.
Transfers come and go, but if Liverpool don't sign anyone this transfer window, it will be utter negligence. After four years in the wilderness, the Reds are in a fantastic position to qualify for the Champions League this season, and further reinforcements are required to consolidate and strengthen the club's position in the top four.
People go on about LFC's alleged 'transfer committee', but in reality, that can only mean Rodgers, Ian Ayre, and probably several other coaches/subordinates. I doubt anyone from FSG is involved in the football side of things because - to coin a uniquely American phrase - they know jacksh*t about 'soccer'. As such, are we to believe that Ayre, the grey accountant, chooses LFC's transfer targets?
Give me a break!
Logically, Rodgers obviously has the most input, and when he took the LFC job, he specifically stipulated that he would not work under a Director of Football. I sincerely doubt that Rodgers would then accept a DoF-by-proxy in the form of Ayre, who has zero experience of managing a football team, let alone players.
FSG hold the purse strings, but Rodgers is responsible for the players that come to the club. The question then becomes why wouldn't FSG sanction significant funds to help Liverpool achieve its Champions League goal?
Could it possibly be that the group is dissatisfied with Rodgers' performance in last summer's transfer market? I personally feel it's a strong possibility, and in all honesty, after the manager's abject waste of transfer funds over the last year and a half, who can blame FSG for being cautious?
All is not lost, though. Remember, LFC just signed Dunkin' Donuts :-)
Author: Jaimie K
Good. Hope we don't buy at all in January and finish 6th or 7th this season. After all we play good football, that's enough.
ReplyDeleteOver-reaction?
ReplyDeleteBR and FSG are getting on my nerves.
ReplyDeleteTo be fair to BR, I don't think he has all that much say in how much we are willing to pay for the players we've identified. That decision comes from above. If anything, I feel it highlights just how well Rodgers is doing with his current squad.
ReplyDeletePure utter shambles, if this is true. I am going to rend my clothes in protest ( in front of my wife of course:) )
ReplyDeleteI cannot understand what happened. Now, is it possible to get Diame from WHU as some stop gap last ditch measure since he is worth 4.5m from earlier articles if my memory serves me right.....who else is there for less than 8m. Gosh like ordering cheapo KFC legs for a bucket!
7 days...can some good news arise?
If Chelsea are prepared to pay £16 mil for him, that's clearly too much. But then they can afford to pay silly money for a player who will spend most of the rest of the season sat on the bench. That said, I'm getting disheartened by constantly missing out on top targets by our refusal to spend a few extra million to secure them. Our transfer business seems to be pedestrian at best. I don't believe the blame for this lies with Rodgers in the slightest. If I were him I'd be furious.
ReplyDeleteLFC always looking for a bargain deserves to finish 5th and below.
ReplyDeleteSome people here think its BR who is "conservative"
ReplyDeletegood point
ReplyDeleteDM is exactly the area we should be focusing on imrproving. Salah might have been an excellent signing, but attacking isn't where our problems lie.
ReplyDeleteSick of this cr*p. The same every window. Bye bye top 4, Suarex, numerous other targets who won't join a floundering club. Ayre has to go, the worst negotiator ever.
ReplyDeletethis is ridculous... our squad lacks width, depth. This is really embarrasing...
ReplyDeleteYes friend I agree..after all the good football which is disheartening..... Suarez might/would leave, I guess then the finances would arise.
ReplyDeleteI'm not so sure. He was reported to be angry at missing out on several targets last summer, particularly Mkhitaryan. He doesn't hold the purse strings.
ReplyDeletePussyfooting as usual. We are in dire straits.
ReplyDeleteLet's not start throwing ourselves under the nearest train just yet.
ReplyDeleteI think Ian Ayre, Brendan rodgers cannot attract players to liverpool. FSG for some reason are badly advised and the so called technical commitee is a joke
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely nothing to do with Rodgers. We actually have a transfer committee which seems are just as useless as before
ReplyDelete"Telegraph Sport understands Liverpool are resigned to losing out on the Egypt international, who was Brendan Rodgers' primary January target. It now seems unlikely Rodgers will attempt to bring in anyone else before the transfer window closes at the end of the month."
ReplyDeleteOuch.
yikes.....BR said Johnson indefinitely injured!
ReplyDeleteJamie, not often I agree with the criticism you give out to Brendan Rodgers, some I feel is unwarranted, but this time around you are spot on. It baffles me how we have been tracking this player since the last transfer window, but wait until the (almost) last minute (willian, anyone?) to seal the deal. Also, we are losing out to a team where Salah has absolutely ZERO chance of being a starter. I mean, is he going to replace Hazard or Oscar? Not likely. It is absolutely embarrassingly incompetent dealings in the transfer market, and yet again we miss out on a deal that should have been closed weeks ago.
ReplyDeleteDisappointed to say the least.
Well those people know nothing
ReplyDeleteIf there has ever been an urgency to buy players, ITS NOW!!! 3 quality players, COMMON FSG......FFS
ReplyDeleteJamie, I hear you man. We only haggle on quality players. For players who are no good we pay over the odds. Whoever is in the transfer committee, we usually buy high on poor players and fail to buy low on good players. We could almost write a thesis on Salah's performance over the past 2 months and it just took Chelsea 3 days to beat us. That's like screwing up all our hard work, doing the scouting for others so they can outbid us. It doesn't make sense at all! All these transfer of Aspas, Sakho, Alberto, make no sense as they don't actually play regularly.
ReplyDelete24 days... almost 3 weeks Ayre were negotiating with Basel for Salah..... Took Chelsea 1 day to bag him.... oh the misery
ReplyDeleteThis should be shocking but it's not. If were willing to pay the 12mil all along, why do we try and offer 7 all month? Basel do not need to sell players, it's not like he's at Valencia. I respect that the owners have a strategy, and will put a maximum value on certain players, but why not offer that maximum value when it'll work, why wait?
ReplyDeleteAs for Salah, he's 21...is he expecting to break into the starting lineup where Mata couldn't, and even ignoring Mata with the competition there? Why would any player that young choose the Chelsea bench over game time at Liverpool? If they get him we should cancel Moses' loan immediately.
I don't think it was the players choice to go to Chelsea. Chelsea met the valuation and he has to go there.
ReplyDeleteIf it is true LFC do not need a prostitute, we need players who will live and die for the shirt.
ReplyDeleteLiverpool blatently got lucky with the £8 bid for coutinho...but as they say, first time lucky, shoeshine mofos
ReplyDeleteForget about top 4 with our current transfer policy we are supposed to be in the top 20 riches club list, but who cares about silverware unless it is won in USA. Our owners are a joke why take so long to visit and discuss transfer dealing no doubt they been watching a few games of baseball
ReplyDeleteNext year will be hard if we don't make top 4 this year as god will be a Real Madrid player and the Americans will have a few more million dollars in the bank as one thing is for sure it will not be spent on new signings
I agree with not paying more than you value the player at but we have waited a long-time to approach his club with an official bid, Is he really what we need now?, not sure about that. Maybe we don't have too much money in this window at all, now we need the U21 players to come in and flourish, we only have 15 fit players according to BR................strange that we have let this drag on however!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd it makes it more painful when Jose ridiculed BR in the press and add salt to wounds with this hijack...sums up our transfer window. Now we will be in panic mode and buy an 18m Snoogy Doogy who will warm the bench and burn our wage bill.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, I agree. I wrote something about FSG's complacency but people backfired me saying it was BR's fault. You can go back couple of articles and you will find it. Since, I have started mentioning both FSG and BR so that I do not offend BR fans.
ReplyDeleteSuarez is gone gang!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is just a complete and utter failure if we dont sign him. Not because we need him. But because its gone on for so long. I'm really growing tired of this; what is the point on supporting a team if they wont support themselves? Rodgers said today that Glen Johnson has been playing with injuries! Why?! Why couldnt Andre Wisdom play instead of being loaned out?! Why is Martin Kelly constantly sat on the bench?! Furthermore why are we pursuing this guy after loaning out all of our wide men?! I mean its an outrage.
ReplyDeleteWe're an absolute embarassment. How degrading for everyone to be posting about this. I feel genuinely sorry for all the supporters of LFC if this does happen. But absolutely none for Ayre and his transfer commitee. Shambles. Get him out.
Does he necessarily have to be a mercenary?It could be that he wanted to move desperately and Chelsea are the ones that came up with the highest bid,May be wanted to come to LFC,but we just won't match CFC's bid.
ReplyDeleteJesus stop with this Suarez is gone thing will you?
ReplyDeleteI hope heads roll because of our feeble attempts to save a few quid.
ReplyDeleteThis is a sad reflection on the desire of the club going forward. Its small minded and could effectively cost us Suarez and the possibility of signing top class players in the summer. I have serious doubts over our CL qualification now. Chelsea have pulled off a master stroke. They have weakened us and strengthened UTD by selling Mata thus giving them a better chance of top 4.
ReplyDeleteI am really disappointed, as you have pointed out on many occasions, Ian Ayre is inept and should be let go. Thats willian, Miktarian (spelling??) and now Salah and lets not forget Dempsey and Sigurdson and recently Ryan Bertrand.
This season was our big chance to get back into the CL, it will not happen again. If we fail and UTD creep in behind us or Spurs or Everton, then we will take many steps backward. Add to that BR terrible transfer dealings and his obsession with Stevie G, I'm starting to have serious doubts!
The worst part about all this is the sloth like speed with which we have approached it. He's not worth £16 mil, that part of our negotiations I agree with at least. But the deal should've been tied up for a lesser fee eons ago.
ReplyDeleteThe player can always turn it down. We met Costa's release clause in the summer and he never came
ReplyDeleteWe spent the extra on Aspas, Moses (loan), Alberto, Iloris all of which had no impact to the squad. If BR is not to be blamed I don't know who is. I don't blame FSG because every season there's a budget, you spend what is given. No way FSG (including me) will overspend if you screw up the summer transfer window.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Salah might just have halted his career progress because he will not start ahead of hazard, oscar or willian or ramires. Money money money!!! Thats the modern day footballer
ReplyDeleteI'm also disappointed, but I really don't think Suarez's possible departure hangs upon the signing of Salah. We need to strengthen defensive midfield. If we can do that in this transfer window, my faith will be restored somewhat.
ReplyDeleteThis transfer will be the one we talk about that defines this fsg's tenure. Too eager to dig in the heels. Were just not that Big anymore dam it. I'm soooo fukcing pissed off right now.
ReplyDeleteI'm feeling sick in the gut. Literally! The thought of being gazumped by anyone for our No.1 target is making me sick. Our transfer dealings are a JOKE!! It's time the owners took a crash course on how to buy players and realise that penny pinching will not see them over the line for fourth spot. CL revenue is worth at least £20M so this window is massive for LFC. TRULY SICKENING!!!
ReplyDeleteThis all comes down to the number of times we have been taken to the cleaners in the past. Let's be honest about it, we're really not very good at this! We seem to pay over the odds when we don't need to (including agent's fees) and get bugger all when we sell. We are now so determined not to be ripped off that we end up either buying players that nobody else wants (Aspas?) of underbidding and losing out to Chelsea, Spurs etc. The really, really frustrating part, is that if we had previously spent money more wisely, given the sums involved; we should have a fantastic squad; whereas sadly we have bought a succession of has beens and never will bes - with a few honourable exceptions!
ReplyDeleteGod bless America..!
ReplyDeleteChill lads Ayre Uncle got us Dunkin Donuts deal which is a great bit of business for us
ReplyDeleteBR is about to feel the raft of the LFC fans if we loose any games!!! Him and Ayre one of them is out for sure if we do miss out on CL place. This is amazing!!!
ReplyDeleteSalah wanted to join Liverpool to play but Chelsea have blown us away, the kid will end-up on-loan somewhere next season!!!.................silly boy!!!
ReplyDeleteIsn't there a Transfer Committee at the club now so not all blame can be put on BR if signings fail.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest i dont think a winger should have been a priority this window especially as BR is trying to fit two strikers in the team at the moment. A left back and an extra body in CM would have been the area to be addressed.
The blinkers on some people really amaze me, the only thing LFC are guilty of is not rapping Salah up early in the transfer window, a catalogue of errors have occured since. Salah stated he wanted to come to the Premiership not LFC, up until last night only Liverpool and Newcastle had shown interest, so obviously LFC was his first choice, then Mata is signing for United so Chelsea have a position to fill, as soon as Chelsea show interest then Salah's head is turned, they will pay him more wages and can promise Champions League Football. Yes he will spend far more time on the bench at Chelsea than what he will do at Liverpool and there is every chance he could be the Moses of next season.
ReplyDeleteSo, none of this is down to Rodgers or Ayre, it's down to the fact that Chelsea have a bottomless pit of money and players would prefer to be apart of that whether it be on the bench, first team or reserves and in some cases to the detriment of their careers.
LFC today offered £12million, if they had offered that on the 1st of January Salah would have already played 3 games in red, but now we are at the business end of the window and Liverpool do not have the funds to do business, it's a shame but a fact that every Liverpool fan now have to accept.
Which in back up to Ash's comment below we all owe so much respect to Rodgers for what he is doing with what he has in front of him.
Diame picked-up an injury last weekend, a nasty one too.
ReplyDeleteAlso i would like to add that its not just the transfer fee that Chelsea would have upped it would have been the whole package in terms of wages, people seem to forget that's a massive part of the cost of a player.
ReplyDeleteWe need to be a hell of a lot quicker in our transfer dealings.
ReplyDeleteWhat to say!? I cant understand how our owners thinking regarding the transfer policy. We can splash 7 million on a player from Sevilla B etc, but we cant give a few million more for one of BR's prime-targets this transfer window... Do anyone understand this "strategy"? I can't...
ReplyDeletePathetic. If this happens, FSG can stick their 'financial model' up their ***!!!! Another bunch if cowboys!!!!
ReplyDeleteIf FSG doubt BR's judgement in the transfer market then why is he still in the job? A huge part of being a manager is signing the right players and if FSG hold such reservations then they need to change tact and support him, stop dragging their heels. If they don't trust his decisions then they should start looking for someone they are willing to back 100% because in the long run we keep losing out with all this heel dragging and cheeky low offers. Salah won't be part of the the chelsski 11 as much as he would if he signed for Liverpool so it is about money if he chooses to sign for Chelski but once again we have missed out dragging our heels
ReplyDeleteOh no 8th place finish it is then. Squad just not good enough........ah well
ReplyDeleteIf Salah is off to Chelski then they are welcome to him, all this talk of Mourinhos masterstroke selling Mata to the mancs is tripe in my opinion, Man U will be a stronger side not just for the remainder of this season but others as well, they flogged him because the offer was too good to turn down
ReplyDeleteI can't blame Rodgers in the slightest. And you're right that DM and left-back should be the focus anyway. Attack is working just fine.
ReplyDeleteJohnson faces long injury layoff.
ReplyDeleteIts official, on Chelsea website now.
ReplyDeleteFSG are all about business. Hell do they care about the fans..Now I understand the reason behind the Suarez deal..To sell him at a higher price in summer. Now they're trying their best to ensure that Pool don't make the UCL, so that Suarez is indeed sold..Take the 70 mil from his sale, pocket 45 mil, and give Rodgers 25 mil to spend in summer. That's the whole plot.
ReplyDeleteAnd they know how to earn our sympathy. They'll target good players, make undervalue bids and wait....so that other clubs can come in and get the players..And then, we fools will say they've tried, but were financially outmuscled...FSG are different people behind their masks..the ones at show are mere showoffs....It's not the club that matters, it's the money that comes from it..
Sigh...yesterday most of us were bleating on about needing a DM instead of a winger, and now we've lost out on the outstanding talent of 21st century. He scored 4 goals in 16 matches IN SWITZERLAND this season. Furthermore, how has Tottenham pipping us to all those players worked out for them? We will wake up tomorrow morning, the world will not have ended, Chelsea will have replaced an world-class Mata with Salah and we'll still be 6 points up on a disjointed Man U (who really need a whole new squad). Have a little faith lads!
ReplyDeleteIts okay, Salah has plenty of pace but a very poor first touch. Not a big loss. That said the protracted nature of LFC negotiating transfer deals is a hindrance to progress. Not a bad time to get rid of Mr Ayre and replace him with a certain Italian who left the Saints I think ;-)
ReplyDeleteChelsea have just confirmed this on their website. So it's a done deal.
ReplyDeleteIt has taken 2 weeks to get where we are. If they can't wrap a Deal up in that time then either Ayre or BR ARE responsible!!!!
ReplyDeleteChelsea have confirmed it according to SkySports - subject to agreeing on the contract and a medical.
ReplyDeleteI'm not surprised at him choosing Chelsea over us as this is what Salah said in an interview in November "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." If he is happy with the prospect of just being a bench warmer then I'm glad he isn't joining us. I want LFC to sign players that have the desire to play week in week out. Look at Suarez. He does't even like being subbed!! That's the mentality of a world class player and Salah has no chance of become a great player with his attitude. And €16M for Salah??? What a joke, he's worth around €9M for a reason. Figure it out for yourselves. Chelsea are only buying him just to disrupt our plans. BR needs to realise that Jose is only remains friends with other managers when they do not pose a threat to him. It was the same with Rafa. They got along fine until Rafa had LFC playing well. Wake up Brendan. Jose can never be trusted.
ReplyDeleteAnother footballing whore bites the dust then, it's all right busting a gut in the odd champs league match, let's see how he lives up to his hype which has been considerable
ReplyDeleteAccording to the latest reports his agent has said HE is no longer interested in talking to Liverpool now Chelski have come for him. He seems more interested in being payed rather than being played and if so I suspect we're better off without him. He'll be on loan to W. Brom, Everton or Villa next season and his career will probaly go the same way as Moses. We may have got him if we'd paid a lot of money early in the window and BR and FSG transfer record is dismal but Chelski and Citeh will always be able to hijack deals because their oil money distorts and disrupts the whole market.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.chelseafc.com/news-article/article/3634770/title/salah-transfer-agreed
ReplyDeleteLFC = Hahahaha lmao lol lmfao......I am fuming and FSG can now go to ****. I supported them but now I have lost all faith in them. Money grabbing ****!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteIn all fairness, I don't think Salah has had a choice of which club to join. LFC pulled out, leaving Cjelsea as the only club prepared to meet the asking price. If we hadn't been so painfully slow in concluding the deal, he could (and should) have been a Liverpool player weeks ago, and for a more reasonable fee. The problem lies in the snail speed at which we seem to do business.
ReplyDeleteLook guys, it may not be that bad. It may well be the case that he fails to adjust to the premier league and that we all start counting our lucky stars! Besides, let's hope Rodgers has a contingency target that he will try to sign this January.
ReplyDeleteSurely he has to sign someone, our squad is so weak at the moment and with the injuries piling up, our top 4 challenge may be derailed. Come on Brendan and FSG, buck your ideas up and get some players in!
The Independent are saying the fee is around £10mil.
ReplyDeleteI agree. It is well easier to find a bus to throw yourself under.
ReplyDeleteOkay so its done!! he has chosen Chelsea over Liverpool and if Liverpool fans b!tch about Salah, it will be really foolish. Why will Salah chose Liverpool who are not serious bidders?? Liverpool showed interest since mid December and did nothing about it!! Chelsea showed interest today morning, made the bid, agreed terms....and tada..done!!! Why the hell should Salah chose Liverpool??? Its getting embarrassing guys...!!
ReplyDeleteI'll be happy with a quality defensive midfielder. That's not too much to ask, is it?
ReplyDeleteWho do you suggest?
ReplyDeleteI would forget it!!!....................Too much time has been wasted!!!
ReplyDeleteM'Vila springs to mind
ReplyDeleteHe won't even get a look in their first team. Career ending decision
ReplyDeleteI am so annoyed right now, why is Liverpool so slow in making transfrers?
ReplyDeleteHave we not learned anything at all from the summer? Scouting Mykhtaryan all summer and in the end we didn't even manage to talk to the player, Dortmund came in and struck the deal in 2mins.
Why would Liverpool give Chelsea a chance to sell both Mata and de Bruyne before making a concrete bid?
Look at all the injuried we have. This is the best chance for top 4 we've had in years and we're just cruisin as if we have 5 games in hand.
We may have progressed but BR transfers have been appaling apart from the obvious 2.
We need to hire Corsese as our MD.
To say BR is responsible is rediculous, it's not his money and he doesn't write the cheque, he highlights what he wants and beleives will improve the squad and then leaves it up to the businessman.
ReplyDeleteSalah was rated at £10million at the begining of January and Liverpool offered £8mill, Basel then increased this to £12 million because Zenit came in, Liverpool matched that but were then knocked off by Chelsea paying over the odds.
I may be alone but I am proud that Liverpool don't pay over the top prices for someone the whole world only valued at £10 million 3 weeks ago.
Wasted too much time on this deal.
ReplyDeleteSo what do you know about Salah to make you so upset? Think a lot of people have bought into his hype, Willlian is hardly setting the prem alight, The rent boys are welcome to him .
ReplyDeleteAgree with everything bar the last point. It's happened with Sigurdsson and Willian as well. We can't afford to keep doing this
ReplyDeletesour grapes eh? Why should he come to Liverpool who never showed serious interest?
ReplyDeletehaha, to think this was posted less than 24 hours ago:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.liverpool-kop.com/2014/01/liverpoo-sign-mohamed-salah-12m-lfc-transfer-news.html?
That is some theory...conspiracy!! I wouldn't agree as I don't think FSG will fall this low. They are not good but not that bad even. They are maybe little bad but not really bad bad. If you know what am saying, I am really sick now. Like really sick sick.
ReplyDeleteNo mate, reality, I don't get sold on soundbites so easy, if a player doesn't want to wear our shirt he can do one as far as iam concerned
ReplyDeleteLiverpool is to blame here, entirely. There were reports in Egypt media and former players that deal was agreed between LFC and Salah but not with Basel. We didn't bid the amount Chelsea did!!!
ReplyDeleteThat's the main issue here. It's not the size of the bid, more the age it seems to be taking to wrap up a deal. Other clubs seem to manage it, why can't we?
ReplyDeleteHopefully Rodgers just thinks indefinitely is the opposite of definitely.
ReplyDeleteSorry mate but some fans are going on like we have dipped out on the real Messi, not the Egyptian one, lol
ReplyDeleteGutted we've missed out yet again by the looks of it...our transfer policy is no good what so ever...why didn't we just pay the extra few million..getting in the champion league would have put that money back in our account... if he does sign for Chelsea then send Moses back to Chelsea to pay his wages...he's not good enough to play for l.f.c ....not happy at all....Ian ayre needs sacking he's no good at all..
ReplyDeleteI find it annoying that whenever a player moves to a rich club, people instantly assume it is money.
ReplyDeleteCould it not just be that as a professional, international footballer, he has the belief in his own ability that he could start for a team of Chelsea's stature?
Done deal, Chelsea posted on their site fee was agreed. LFC would not budge past their value of the player which is 8mil (we offered 10).
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, this season has a big importance as to who will take over after United falls down in the pecking order. It is clear now, teams will do whatever it takes to secure the PL title this season and make their mark. LFC is not one of those teams who are willing to fight for their place IMO or better yet the owners. I also think that Ian Ayre is bad for the club, that guy seems to drive players away from LFC instead of bringing them in.
all we have now are Donuts!!!!
ReplyDeletedon't use L0L...it goes into moderation.
ReplyDeleteCue loads of stories linking us with Yarmolenko.
ReplyDeleteWait for Spurs/Chelsea to bid for him.....1.....2......3.......
ReplyDeleteI take it the "outstanding talent of the 21 century " was said tongue in cheek, and 4 in 16 in the Swiss league? Guess we should all give up then, ha,ha.
ReplyDeleteM'Vila would be nice. Or Fernando of Porto.
ReplyDeleteWith Dunkin doughnuts we are still losers because krispy kreme are far superior!
ReplyDeletemourinho is dick..
ReplyDeleteWell now Salah can go and enjoy his time sitting on Chelsea's bench. Clearly money is more important to him. he will most probably be looking for a move sooner or later just like Kevin De Bruyne.
ReplyDeleteOn to the next one...
Absolutely and people are thinking Salah deal is an important issue here.
ReplyDeleteWho said money is more important to him?
ReplyDeleteWho needs salah when we have Dunkin Donut in our mouth.
ReplyDeleteif Salah had already made his mind to join Liverpool, money will NOT be the issue!!!
ReplyDeleteIts not the Salah siging that will make LS leave, its the lack of CL football which I am starting think will happen again because my beloved club are so hopeless in the transfer market
ReplyDeleteIts all about getting your priorities right hey ;-)
ReplyDeleteLet Chelsea rack up their debt, money has to run out at some point
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the same people on here accusing fsg of being indecisive and expecting them to spend £16 mill for a young untested Egyptian lad. Are the same ones who condemn them for paying over the odds for Downing Carroll etc.
ReplyDeleteIts easy when you sit in your armchair and wait and see how things turn out then say "I told you so".
Why else would he have joined Chelsea them?
ReplyDeleteAnyone who thinks he is going to be an automatic starter at Chelsea must be having a laugh.
Well done to the special one again. Messed up are
ReplyDeleteTransfers targets once more. Here's to another load of
Players we are apparently after......
good article jamie This is getting beyond a joke , this is liverpool we are talking about , a massive club that keeps failing . when it comes to getting things done , it has been way to long for liverpool to not be challenging for titles and the one year we have a real crack we dont have the backing of the owners , a club like liverpool should have owners that know what it means to own liverpool and know what it means what they have to do and that is spend in the current climate of football , if they cant sell us to someone who is willing to take us back to the top , because this is getting ridiculous , if man city and chelsea who dont have no where near the fan base we do and the history we do can get owners that will do anything for success , its insane we dont rant over ynwa
ReplyDeleteJesus, he joined Chelsea because Liverpool were not serious bidders. We showed interest since mid December but did nothing about it. Chelsea did the business in 1 day.
ReplyDeletei hope manchester city will beat the s**t out of Chelsea in the upcoming premier league match!!
ReplyDeleteMoney talks BS walks.
ReplyDeletewe need good quality players to come in.. if not we will not be able to achieve top 4.
ReplyDeleteAt most..we will end up with panic buys.Then they too will end up sitting at the bench not being able to fulfill their talents.I believe luis alberto can be top class.Just needs playing time.It was the same for hendo.Get playing time and you get better.I don't knw who to blame.Ayre?..or BR?..From what i can see..their transfer business all comes down to getting players on the cheap or on loan.
ReplyDelete£11 million according to bbc. Even if it was £16m thats not the point a lot of people here are arguing. More why it took so long to put a bid in, we've been following him for ages.
ReplyDeleteBBC is reporting the fee is in the 'region' of 11M pounds. WTF? Isn't that what we offered?
ReplyDeleteIf it's stature he wanted maybe he should look at our global fan base & trophies, Chelsea were nothing till the Russki turned up
ReplyDeleteSome people on here do make me laugh, do they forget that we've got Suarez, Sturridge, Sterling & Coutinho?? All fit and just as/if not better than Salah???
ReplyDeleteTwo out and out wing backs are what LFC need allowing Suarez & Sturridge to play in a 3-5-2, with Coutinho sitting behind them.
Add a defensive midfielder to that and that would be a good window.
just playing good football is not good enough for liverpool , we should be challenging for titles every year they are the foundations shankly put in place when he built the club , and it aint going to happen with the way things are being run at the club at this point of time
ReplyDeletewe offered 10. Do you expect FSG to pay a million more? A MILLION MORE???
ReplyDeleteWe should as Chelsea to give us Salah on loan and take moses back. haha
ReplyDeleteThey have got cash to blow after selling Mata and de Bruyne.
ReplyDeleteExpect them to sign a striker too.
He's not going to play in Chelskis midfield with the players they have there. Only time will tell how he's going to turn out. I don't care anymore more he's there player now, good look to him........
ReplyDeleteThey offered 12 today
ReplyDeleteThis is getting ridiculous, Liverpool need to start acting like Liverpool, and get things done. FSG isn't like this with the Red Sox, they identify a player they want and get them. Everyone has a price, but sometimes you have to overpay to get what you need. It's time for John Henry, Liverpool Owner to act like John Henry, Red Sox owner.
ReplyDeleteWhat a message this sends to Suarez, by the way Johnson is out of contract bad management, he probably wont play for Liverpool again. I don't care if he goes I do care if he goes for nothing.
ReplyDeleteI haven't said anything negative about the current regime yet, but this is becoming a joke. I'll wait til the end of the window but if we fail to make the kind of signings that would help us push for champions league then I'm going to jump on the 'FSG out' bandwagon. It seems to me that BR is suffering even worse transfer restraints than Rafa did. We are falling behind in terms of quality. BR biggest signing has been Joe Allen and a defender! We need more quality in midfield. Anyone with a hole in their behind can see that. Without knowing the full story it seems that we've missed out on a lot of top top players to last minute hijackings. I don't blame other clubs as the only constant in these huge transfer cockups is us dragging our heels over a couple of million. Absolute garbage transfer policy if that is the case. Makes us look like laughing stock. I'm embarrassed to be a Liverpool fan ATM to be honest with you.
ReplyDeleteI bet Kevin de Bruyne was thinking the same way as you are?
ReplyDeleteYes, I was being sarcastic.
ReplyDeleteI doubt Suarez's future hinges on the signing of Salah. It does hinge on us finishing in the top 4 though. And for that we need a left back but most importantly we need a DM.
ReplyDeleteI might be an optimist, but if we match the Chelsea bid will we be able to negotiate with Salah as well?
ReplyDeleteI think we have a credible chance of getting him if it's just between us and chelskea.
Wait for it, next is we are going to get news that Planet X is heading Earth's way and we are all doomed!
ReplyDeleteSame old sickening story. Yet again we haggle over pennies and get gazumped. When will these idiot owners realise that if u want top quality u have to pay for it???? We should have signed this guy in the 1st week of the window. Don't know why we take so damn long to do business. I'm sick to my stomach right now
ReplyDeleteThat is the end of our challenge for 4th Place. thanks very much FSG, thanks a bunch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeletefuuuck ooooofff chelsea fc you ain´t got no history ...
ReplyDeleteIf that's the case it makes us look even more pedestrian. We could have had this one wrapped up a couple of weeks ago.
ReplyDelete:) thanks mate, I wondered why
ReplyDeleteThat was the most depressing press conference ever Rodgers looked and sounded very downbeat also Mourinho has been sticking the knife into Liverpool at will, Brendon seems scared to upset him.
ReplyDeleteBrendan Rodgers is due to address the press conference about the transfer market activity:-
ReplyDeleteBBC: So Brendan, are you going to buy someone for the future?
BR: No
BBC: Ah, ok, so just a review of your transfer plans?
BR: No
BBC: A presentation then, to get excited or encouragement.
BR: Ah... no.
BBC: At least 1 transfer? to cover up for injuries?
BR: No
BBC: Well look Brendan, I've forked out a small *********** fortune to get you in here... Have you got nothing???
BR: (rising to feet) Relax Señor, I have a wonderful idea from last season....
"Gentlemen... I have in my hand thirty envelopes! "
Oh my God, the fabulous , wonderful phenomenon that is Mohammed Salah will not be joining Liverpool, time to top myself, yawn.
ReplyDeleteas sad as it is. I'm inclined to agree with you. I've supported Rodgers and backed FSG all the way. But the last 2 windows have been such a disaster. I dont understand the thinking of anyone. Pay over the odds for a bunch of players that will never play. And then beat around the bush for players that you actually want.
ReplyDeleteI mean even if Salah is worth 8 million. Obviously Basel dont have to sell him - hence you pay a little bit more to entice Basel to agree a deal. I thought thats how deals are done? Why do we try to low ball all these teams. They probably dont take us seriously and tell us where to stick it.
Not to mention Mourinho appears to be out to completely ruin us this season. We really could have one upped him...
Yep, he probably was. What is your point?
ReplyDeleteHe is still only 22. He tried and failed. At least he tried.
I don't think people understand the faith you have to have in your self to get to that level. He was one of the most feted young talents in Europe. Chelsea were prepared to pay good money for him. If you were 18 (not certain of his age when Chelsea agreed the deal for him) and a big club came to you, offered you millions of pounds, said you were worth millions of pounds, you don't think that would feed into your ego and self-belief?
In the terms that matter most to players, ie. the ability to win trophies, Chelsea are of greater stature than us.
ReplyDeletebut the future...
ReplyDeleteI think you mean:
ReplyDelete3...2...1...
Countdown, baby. More inherent tension.
He joined Chelsea in 2012 when he was 20.
ReplyDeleteThis only makes us seem more irrelevant.
ReplyDeleteScouse.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Mohamed Salah is LFC's saviour. Pretty sure the season isn't over because BR didn't sign a winger.
ReplyDeleteThey have loads more money than us. Salah's agent must have been foaming at the mouth after convincing the player that Chelsea is the 'better' team to join...
ReplyDeleteKeep the faith, Chelsea could blow out anytime the Russki decides to cash in his chips , they've been pumping millions into the club for the last ten years to put a tiny dent in our trophy haul, lfc will always have a bigger fanbase
ReplyDeleteChelsea are hoarding players so as rivals can't sign them,simple! We'll probably see this player loaned out to do damage to chelsea rivals next season. The fa are going to have to let players play against their parent clubs, otherwise this i going to get worse! I guess liverpool have only themselves to blame,again! The dithering over signings seems to be as bad as ever. I thought BR seemed very subdued in his press conference,he must be annoyed?!
ReplyDeleteFair article, and your frustration is evident. I think we all feel the same. The Salah deal never seemed like it was done. I think they offered a package on par with chelsea to basel. But, the personal terms on offer at chelsea are fair greater. In all fairness, he seems like a chelsea player, and he may get some game time this season, but probably next season is where he will start to make some headway into that team.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't be arsed Googling it.
ReplyDeleteThat supports my point even more then. What has he lost?
He went and had a very productive season in the Bundesliga and just had to sit on the bench a bit at Chelsea. Still got to train and observe world class players.
Sick of all this crap.just goes to show all these reports are bullshit. Probably turn out Liverpool. Never made an offer after all. Watch.
ReplyDeleteSo do you think Salah's career is going to be any different at Chelsea?
ReplyDeleteHa, thought so.
The Beeb says that he is yet to agree terms, so hopefully we're just trying to snatch him from Chelsea at the last minute for hilarity value.
ReplyDeleteit´s agreed its official on their homepage!
ReplyDeletelmao
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure Tottenham had 'agreed' a deal for Willian in the summer before Chelski came a knockin'.
ReplyDeleteWhat makes you think Liverpool can offer more wages than Chelsea?
ReplyDeleteAnyone know where you can see a clip from the press conference
ReplyDeletetoday?
Perhaps a slight over-reaction to my fair comment. Getting trolled by our own fans. How are you not embarrassed by this and William, makhitirian, Erickson, and signing the average summer window players? I'm an optimist but I'm not deluded. Did you just see the press conference?
ReplyDeletetranscript- http://www.thisisanfield.com/2014/01/brendan-rodgers-pre-bournemouth-press-conference/
ReplyDeleteNope. They've agreed a fee. Not terms. Says that on the official Chelsea site.
ReplyDeleteNot just pedestrian but really stingy!
ReplyDeleteAh, a voice of reason.The signing of Salah will not make or break our season.
ReplyDeleteYeah, if he actually plays a lot & contributes, otherwise it's pretty empty just throwing in the odd few appearances here & there
ReplyDeleteok sorry mate, still think there´s no chance for us any more ..
ReplyDeleteor an auto/tuktuk ;)
ReplyDeleteLFCTV
ReplyDeleteDon't think BR can be blamed for this, the talk about Salah to LFC has been around for ages so it's fair to say the target had been identified for some time.
ReplyDeleteI seriously doubt BR is directly involved in negotiations between the clubs and agent, that would obviously be Ian Ayres specific role! He and FSG need to shoulder the blame for this, and William and Eriksson and Mhiktaryan and even Dempsey and Bertrand.
None of those deals were a surprise before we lost out.
I'm not saying "FSG out", they have clearly been mostly good for the club, but they definately need to re-evaluate the overall process for transfer negotiations and Ian Ayres effectiveness in his role. Realistically, in January what should Ian Ayres priorities have been; transfer negotiations or commercial agreements that could have waited a few weeks?
Even if IA was not in control of the decision as to which to prioritise, that still shows his ineffectiveness as a strong MD would have advised the owners of the potential, and now realised, mistake of that decision.
I think BR must be fuming as he has done his job re transfers and been let down by others.
I am actually very much a regular on this site.
ReplyDeleteI quite enjoyed reading your post, it paints a picture of you throwing your toys out of the cot.
Now just heard on Sky Sports that the fee agreed with CFC is £11m!!!
ReplyDeleteWe can afford that and should of had the deal in the bag weeks ago.
One word - Embarrassing!
Ha,ha, how did you guess?
ReplyDeleteMy guess is that it ended up coming down to wages.
ReplyDeleteChelsea probably offered him more to sit on the bench than we offered to play.
We want to consistently give out incentive-laden contracts. If you play well, you are rewarded. If you don't play well, you're paid accordingly.
Chelsea probably gave him a guaranteed wage.
And finally, what concerns me most about this is that we haven't addressed our defense. We've scored goals at a great rate this year. And it would have been nice to bring in someone to score more goals... but the reason why we'll make or miss the top 4 is going to be determined primarily by our defensive results.
BBC is also reporting £11m, that hurts even more. why can't we complete a signing? Ian, care to explain?
ReplyDeleteJim Jones season over the loss of the Messiah :)
ReplyDeletei just hope we don't get beat the shit out by the Blues
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing Ian will be unwinding for the next few days on his Motorbike...!!!!
ReplyDeleteAlso Chelsea had agreed a deal with Real Madrid over Robinho and it was on their website, we all know how that turned out don't we?
ReplyDeleteBack on topic of Salah. Yeah, we've missed out... AGAIN!
Our priority should be the league now i don't give a damn about the FA cup play the reserve team for all i care and give us a win against Everton and stay in the top 4.This is the only way that will appease all the fans if we keep winning in the League.
ReplyDeleteHa,ha, you got it mate, another ride along the dock road on his Harley :)
ReplyDeleteHow can BR say defensive reinforcements are not a priority?? DM and/or LB RB seem more of a priority than a winger. BR knows how to frustrate!
ReplyDeleteIf you are trying make it to the top level you need to buy players as soon as they are available. If LFC are serious they will have given the money when January 1 came along. Now they try to pay more after Chelski came along. BR now is saying he has only 15 players.
ReplyDeleteNo, but is not what I think or what you think that matters.
ReplyDeleteIt is what Salah thinks. Presumably as an international footballer, he has faith in his own ability. What is so hard to understand about that?
You're acting like I wrote: "Great move for Salah, he'll do great things at Chelsea".
Can just tell, lad. You used the official motto of our people:
ReplyDelete"Calm down"
What's wrong with the future, Doc Brown?
ReplyDelete