Dele's smile is back - now he needs to stay on the pitch!

Leeds falling apart again as promotion bid begins to unravel

Tottenham should be toiling Chelsea's perfect tonic

Understanding Mohamed Salah 

Lionesses' left-back woes becoming a major Euros concern

Editors' Picks

WATCH: Son's priceless reaction as he's asked if he's better than Salah

How to buy Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona Copa del Rey tickets

Scotland World Cup 2026 qualifying: Group, fixtures & results 

Santos Laguna vs Monterrey: Stream, TV & where to watch

Where to watch Ronaldo's Al-Nassr games: Stream & TV info

How to buy Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad Copa del Rey tickets

Where to watch & stream MLS games live

Man Utd live stream and TV channel broadcast info

<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Salah an all-time great at Liverpool</li><li>But Klopp almost passed on signing him</li><li>German had to be convinced to secure deal</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

Revealed: Jurgen Klopp almost passed on signing Mohamed Salah for Liverpool and had to be convinced by research team to bring Egyptian to Anfield

Premier League

Fulham

Liverpool

<p>Ian Graham, a former Liverpool director of research, has claimed that Klopp actually wanted to sign Julian Brandt from Bayer Leverkusen in 2017 instead of Salah from Roma. While Graham's colleagues agreed that the German international was a "very good young player", he was not at the same level as the Egyptian winger. Graham added that the Reds needed a wide player at the time, Salah fit the bill and Klopp allegedly said he was "open" to being convinced. And the rest is history.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Graham said on the documentary, <em>How to Win the Champions League: Liverpool 2019</em>:<strong> </strong>"Jurgen's preferred option for that summer was Julian Brandt, who was a great player. Jurgen would obviously know him very well coming from the Bundesliga and knowing the German market very well. We agreed that Brandt was a very good young player but not a standout in the same way that Mo was. From our data analysis point of view, Mo was the best young wide forward in Europe full stop. Roma were under pressure to sell because their finances were not in a good place so we knew he was available for a good price. He played a forward and wide role that we needed to fill at the time whereas Brandt was more of an attacking midfielder. It's to Jurgen's credit that he engaged in that debate in an honest way with his eyes open to say, 'OK, I'm open to be convinced, show me that Mo is better'." </p>

'SHOW ME THAT SALAH IS BETTER...'

<p>Salah has proven to be one of the best signings in Premier League history, with the 32-year-old scoring 243 goals and notching 110 assists in just 393 games for Liverpool. And he cost just £34 million ($44.5m) at the time. How different it might have been for the Merseyside outfit if they hadn't signed the ex-Chelsea man.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Salah will look to add to his goals and assists tally when they travel to Fulham on Sunday in the Premier League. Incidentally, <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0029tgn" target="_blank"><em>How to win the Champions League: Liverpool 2019</em></a> is available on BBC iPlayer now and on BBC One on Wednesday, April 9, at 11.40pm.  </p>

WHAT NEXT?

Revealed: Jurgen Klopp almost passed on signing Mohamed Salah for Liverpool and had to be convinced by research team to bring Egyptian to Anfield | Goal.com

A former Liverpool director says Jurgen Klopp almost passed on signing Mohamed Salah and had to be convinced to secure his signature.

Next Match