Liverpool legend criticises club’s pursuit of Mohamed Salah

Posted On July 11, 2017

Liverpool legend-turned-pundit Steve Nicol feels that his former club are taking a huge risk on Mohamed Salah, who is likely to cost in excess of £40m.

The player’s representative was spotted in London earlier yesterday, and it is suggested that the deal is close to completion with the Reds likely to surrender to Roma’s demands.

Salah failed to make a significant impact during his previous Premier League spell with Chelsea, and Nicol insists that the Merseysiders are wasting their time on the player, who is unlikely to be a regular starter. The likes of Philippe Coutinho and Sadio Mane pick themselves in the starting line-up, and there is a doubt whether Salah would prop up through the middle – a position occupied regularly by Robert Firmino.

“It is a lot of money, yeah. It’s a lot of money for Liverpool to buy a player, who, if everybody is fit, I don’t think starts.You play Coutinho on the left, you play Mane on the right. I don’t think you play Salah through the middle that means he doesn’t start.As far as the squad, obviously Liverpool are in the Champions League yes, but for £40m? I don’t think so,” he told ESPN.

While Nicol disagrees with the Reds’ pursuit, Salah would undoubtedly be pleased to link up with the Anfield-based club after admitting that they were close to signing him prior to Chelsea move in January 2014. Back then, Swiss club Basel had quoted a £11m for the Egypt international, but the Reds’ reluctance allowed Chelsea to hijack the deal in the final stages.

Salah did not quite make it with the west London club, but has since developed heap and bounds with the Giallorossi where he contributed 15 goals during the previous campaign, en route to a runner-up finish in Serie A.