Mohamed Salah is more valuable than Neymar right now, says Tony Cascarino

Posted Tuesday, March 20, 2018 by squawka.com

Former Republic of Ireland international Tony Cascarino says Liverpool star Mohamed Salah would be a more worthwhile signing than Neymar, the world's most expensive footballer.

Salah signed for Liverpool in a bargain £37.8m deal last summer, compared to the £199.8m fee Paris Saint-Germain paid for the Brazil international.

The Egyptian international permanently lodged his name into the Anfield folklore after netting four goals for the first time against Watford on Saturday – including his first hat-trick for the club.

Salah, 25, was directly involved in all of his side's goals during the 5-0 rout – setting up Roberto Firmino for their third of the day – and surpassed Fernando Torres as the player to have scored the most times in his debut season at Liverpool (36).

With the 25-year-old seemingly breaking a new record every week – he is now the Premier League's top-scorer with 28 goals and has already beaten Luis Suarez's best-ever scoring season at Liverpool – Cascarino has stated he is of more worth than Neymar.

"If I had [the £200m Neymar fee] now I would spend it on Mohamed Salah — I can't think of anyone in world football I would rather buy," Cascarino told the The Times.

"Salah reminds me of Kevin Keegan but with more technical ability. Keegan's great strength was his movement — he was always buzzing around the box trying to work an angle or be first to a rebound.

"The Egypt forward deserves to be compared to the likes of Messi and Ronaldo this season and he betters them in some areas — he works far harder off the ball and, despite being the star man, still chases back and puts in tackles."

The 25-year-old Egyptian is not 'just' a goalscorer either, as he has created 53 chances for Liverpool this season, notching nine assists – the most of any other Reds player.

"He puts in the work for the team, and the team and system works for him to create so many chances — he is a top scorer but could have had many more," Cascarino continued.

"When I think about players who are not strikers but score goals, I think Salah is only behind Messi and Ronaldo but has the potential to be on a similar level. I would certainly have him in my team ahead of Neymar.

"The only thing left now in terms of his career is winning trophies, putting in match-winning displays in big games."

Ronaldo vs Salah: international talismans on a collision course

Mohamed Salah is more valuable than Neymar right now, says Tony Cascarino

Salah and Cristiano Ronaldo are set to face each other when Portugal and Egypt play in an international friendly this Friday.

Salah and Ronaldo have scored 36 and 37 goals in all competitions so far this season respectively. The Portuguese international, despite having a slow scoring start to the season, has produced a sensational return to form having scored a massive 14 goals in his last six La Liga matches.

A bulk of Ronaldo's goals have come in the Champions League – 12 – while Salah has scored more domestic goals and comes out top in every other aspect of his game including assists, chances created and key passes per 90 when compared with the 33-year-old.

The Liverpool striker has already attained glory with his national side after he netted a last-minute penalty against Congo to send his country through to the World Cup, for their first appearance in 18 years, while Ronaldo was pivotal in winning the 2016 Euros with Portugal.