Mohamed Salah to become Liverpool's record signing: Reds offer £39million deal

MOHAMED SALAH is set to become Liverpool’s record signing, putting pen to paper on a five-year deal today worth up to £39million.

Posted Wednesday, June 21, 2017 by Express.co.uk

Mohamed Salah to become Liverpool's record signing: Reds offer £39million deal
Roma star Mohamed Salah could become Liverpool's record-breaking signing

The Egypt international underwent a medical last night ahead of the big-money switch from Roma.

And Salah, 25, is ready to finally complete a move that nearly went through two years ago only for the club, then managed by Brendan Rogers, to baulk at Basel's £11m valuation.

The deal will eclipse the previous high water mark of £35m paid for Andy Carroll.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has made Salah one of his key transfer targets, seeing the left-sided attacking player as the perfect counter-balance to the incision offered by Sadio Mane on the opposite flank.

Salah has taken a circuitous route back to Anfield taking in an unhappy stint at Chelsea after the London club, then managed by Jose Mourinho, paid the £11m Liverpool would not.

After just six Premier League starts there followed two loan spells first with Fiorentina and then Roma who made the deal permanent paying £15m for the winger last summer.

Since then he has proved a key part in a successful Serie A campaign scoring 15 goals in 31 appearances as Roma finished second behind Juventus.

Salah, who became Klopp’s preferred option when Julian Brandt decided he would stay put at Bayer Leverkusen, is keen to take the No.9 shirt last worn by Christian Benteke who left for Crystal Palace last summer.

He is set to become the second signing of Liverpool’s summer transfer activity following the acquisition of young England star Dominic Solanke from Chelsea.

Liverpool may yet break their record spend again this summer with Red Bull Leipzig’s Naby Keita high on Klopp’s wishlist, even with a £40m valuation.

Klopp’s bargaining position had looked very strong given Red Bull Leipzig seemed likely to be refused entry into the Champions League on account of the same owner’s Red Bull Salzburg already having qualified.

However UEFA ruled yesterday that both clubs could enter following important structural and governance changes to both clubs.