Making his debut for KingFut, Maher Noseir explores why Liverpool is the best destination for Mohamed Salah of all the clubs he’s been recently linked to.
Up-and-coming Egyptian star Mohamed Salah has been linked to some of the most storied clubs in Europe of late. As rumors abound regarding where the current FC Basel dynamo will land, we break down the he said, she said and try to find the best fit.
Speculation includes Italian heavyweights Juventus, Fiorentina, and Lazio. In England, Salah has drawn ‘strong interest’ as revealed by his agent, with Tottenham, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool all reportedly linked. German giants Borussia Dortmund and Turkey’s Galatasaray are also rumored to be in the running for his services.
Italy’s Serie A has given football aficionados the best show so far this season right after the English Premiership. Salah has established himself as one of fastest, most skilled dribblers in the old continent. He’s been brilliant in UEFA competitions, but since he shines brightest in high-tempo scenarios that afford him considerable space, the more tempered, closed style of Italian football may not bode well for him.
The English Premiere League seems to, without a doubt, be Salah’s best bet. The speed of the game in the EPL goes without saying, with clubs regularly and courageously playing to win. Salah would find himself with an ideal opportunity to develop his game with attack-minded clubs that play with pace.
The second-best option for Salah in my opinion is Borussia Dortmund. Playing for a manager like Jürgen Klopp would be a difficult opportunity for any footballer to pass up.
Playing time, however, is another important factor to bare in mind. Careful consideration of these teams’ respective rosters is imperative before making a final choice.
Potential destinations for Salah
Chelsea, for instance, boasts the likes of Hazard, Oscar, Mata, Willian, Andre Schürrle, and Victor Moses (when he comes back from loan).
At Manchester United we find Giggs, Nani, Valencia, Ashley Young, Zaha, Kagawa, Welbeck, and Januzaj.
Tottenham Hotspur have Lamela, Chadli, Sigurdsson, Townsend, Aaron Lennon, and Eriksen.
Dortmund‘s roster includes Marco Reus, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Błaszczykowski, Jonas Hofmann, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
And finally, Liverpool, where the biggest challenge to Salah would be Rahim Sterling since Victor Moses is returning to Chelsea at the end of the season.
So, through our quick comparison, we find that the vacancy at Liverpool is just calling the name of the “Egyptian Messi” or more accurately, the “Egyptian Robben.” Salah can play down both flanks with Coutinho in the middle as a playmaker, or go forward beside Sturridge or Suárez if one of them is absent.
This season, the Merseyside Reds are aspiring to restore the glory of yesteryear and finish in the top four after several disastrous seasons. Or even, dare they dream, take a bite of the forbidden fruit that is the league title, which has alluded them for 23 years. It’s a win-win for Salah and Liverpool. He’s just the piece they need and it would be an ideal environment through which the 21-year-old could develop. It would also be the most prestigious club an Egyptian footballer has ever joined.
It’s worth mentioning that both The Daily Mail and The Mirror have also reported Liverpool’s interest, putting the transfer at the January window for a fee of £12-15 million.
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