Jurgen Klopp has dismissed suggestions that he didn’t wish to sign Mohamed Salah for Liverpool.
Earlier this week, Salah announced that he is looking time on his nine-year stint with Liverpool at the top of the season and can leave Anfield on a free transfer.
Salah joined Liverpool in a £34.3 million deal from Roma in 2017 but former defender Jamie Carragher has claimed that Klopp was as a substitute pushing for a deal to sign Julian Brandt, who was playing for Bayer Leverkusen on the time.
Nevertheless, in an interview with The Anfield Wrap which was released on Thursday, Klopp revealed that while he did hold talks with Brandt over a move to Anfield, the previous Liverpool manager is adamant that Salah was all the time the club’s first selection.
‘There’s all the time a story that I desired to sign Julian Brandt or something like that,’ Klopp said.
‘That is the situation, with that once you go for a winger you consult with seven or eight, and yes, we spoke to Julian Brandt but we spoke to Mo Salah, it’s not he [Brandt] didn’t want it so we took him [Salah], whatever people think I don’t care, but within the moment we were 100 per cent convinced he was the one, more convinced than he was probably in that moment because he, no less than not with us, perhaps inside he was.’
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Klopp also believes it’ll difficult for any current Liverpool player to match Salah’s scoring record, with the Egyptian now third on the club’s all-time list with 255 goals behind Roger Hunt (285) and Ian Rush (346).
But Klopp believes Hugo Ekitike, who has scored 17 goals in his first season at Liverpool, could go close.
‘I hope he [Salah] can have a successful remainder of the season,’ Klopp said.
‘We texted actually last night, I actually hope he enjoys the remainder of the season but I do know Mo can only enjoy it should you win football matches and he scores.
‘I actually hope that on the last matchday, you all can have a smile in your face, and just be be completely happy and thankful that one of the crucial incredible careers that we are going to ever be apart of, that’s the way it is.
Liverpool’s all-time top scorers
- Ian Rush – 346 goals
- Roger Hunt – 285 goals
- Mohamed Salah – 255 goals
- Gordon Hodgson – 241
- Billy Liddell – 228
- Steven Gerrard – 186
- Robbie Fowler – 183
- Kenny Dalglish – 172
- Michael Owen – 158
- Harry Chambers – 151
‘Where he got here from, what he went through and what he gave us… incredible.
‘Within the moment, once you work with him, the larger view it’s ridiculous, just ridiculous, unmatched numbers, we may sit here in 10 years, perhaps Ekitike [will break his record] but it’ll be difficult.
‘Certainly one of the all time greats, definitely, will leave the club in the summertime, and let’s see where he’ll show up next.’
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