Why Liverpool lost to Chelsea in battle for Egypt star Mohamed Salah
Posted Tuesday, January 28, 2014 by Dailystar.co.uk
LIVERPOOL missed out on signing Mohamed Salah as they dithered over a deal, it was claimed last night.
Liverpool were keen on a move for Salah, but Chelsea nipped in at the last minute to seal a deal
Salah snubbed the Reds to join Chelsea last week in a deal believed to be worth £13.5m.
But his agent claims Liverpool only have themselves to blame for missing out on the ‘Egyptian Messi’.
“It was a long and fair negotiation with Liverpool, but it lasted two-and-a-half months - too long,” said Sascha Empacher.
“Both clubs could not agree on terms. When Chelsea contacted Basel, he was happy and took his chance. It was no financial matter.”
Blues boss Jose Mourinho pounced with the deal taking just five days to conclude.
And Blues star Branislav Ivanovic reckons the club have landed the new Arjen Robben.
The 21-year-old tormented Ivanovic and Chelsea in four games in Europe over the past two years, scoring three times and inspiring Basel to a shock double in this season’s Champions League.
Serbian Ivanovic admits Salah had been one of his most difficult opponents to handle and believes he could prove to be as good as former Blues wing wizard Robben.
Salah has tormented Chelsea in recent seasons
“Salah reminds me of Robben, the way he plays always going from the right wing, but going inside left-footed,” said Ivanovic.
“I hope he is going to be important for us. He is a great player, we know him because we played him four times in the last two years.
“He is very quick, and goes forward with the ball. These are the kind of players we need to improve our team. He has time, he is young, and I have to say it is maybe good for him to step up.
“He was really good against us, he played very well. With the ball he is very quick, very smart with his movement - the kind of player that we need in the squad.”
Ivanovic is also delighted to have midfielder Nemanja Matic, 25, back at the club after rejoining from Benfica for £21m.
“He was my best mate the last time when he was here,” said Ivanovic. “Now, for me, he is like my brother and we do a lot of things together.
“He is now a proper player, he has come back after two-and-a-half years in Portugal, where the people loved him.
“He has a different confidence, is a different player, with a different attitude so he must be very important for us.
“And, yes, he looks so much stronger. I don’t know what happened, you have to ask the guys in Portugal!”
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