Jurgen Klopp has firmly dismissed persistent claims that he did not want to sign Mohamed Salah for Liverpool, setting the record straight in a revealing interview. The former Liverpool manager addressed the long-standing narrative directly, insisting Salah was unequivocally the club's primary target during the 2017 transfer window.
Klopp Sets the Record Straight on Salah Signing
Earlier this week, Salah announced he will conclude his remarkable nine-year tenure at Liverpool at the season's end, departing Anfield as a free agent. This announcement reignited discussions about his initial arrival, with former defender Jamie Carragher having previously suggested Klopp favored a move for Julian Brandt, then of Bayer Leverkusen, over the Egyptian winger.
However, in an interview released with The Anfield Wrap, Klopp provided a detailed account of the 2017 negotiations. He acknowledged discussions with Brandt but emphasized that Salah was always Liverpool's foremost choice.
'Salah Was 100 Per Cent the One'
'There's always a story that I wanted to sign Julian Brandt or something like that,' Klopp stated. 'This is the situation: when you go for a winger, you talk to seven or eight players. Yes, we spoke to Julian Brandt, but we spoke to Mo Salah. It's not that he [Brandt] didn't want it, so we took him [Salah]. Whatever people think, I don't care, but in that moment, we were 100 per cent convinced he was the one.'
Klopp elaborated, suggesting the club's conviction in Salah's potential may have even exceeded the player's own at the time. 'We were more convinced than he was probably in that moment because he, at least not with us, maybe inside he was,' the German manager added, highlighting the scouting and belief that led to the £34.3 million acquisition from Roma.
Salah's Legacy and Future Successor
Klopp also reflected on Salah's monumental legacy at the club, with the Egyptian now sitting third on Liverpool's all-time scoring list with 255 goals, trailing only legends Roger Hunt (285) and Ian Rush (346). 'One of the all-time greats, definitely, will leave the club in the summer,' Klopp said, paying tribute to Salah's journey and impact.
'Where he came from, what he went through, and what he gave us... incredible,' Klopp continued. 'In the moment, when you work with him, the bigger view is ridiculous, just ridiculous, unmatched numbers.'
Looking to the future, Klopp suggested current striker Hugo Ekitike, who has netted 17 goals in his debut season, could potentially challenge Salah's records, though he acknowledged the difficulty. 'We may sit here in 10 years, maybe Ekitike [will break his record], but it will be difficult,' Klopp remarked.
Final Wishes for a Legend
Klopp expressed his hope for a strong finish to Salah's final campaign at Anfield. 'I hope he [Salah] can have a successful rest of the season,' Klopp said, revealing the pair had recently been in contact. 'I really hope he enjoys the rest of the season, but I know Mo can only enjoy it if you win football matches and he scores.'
The manager concluded with a heartfelt sentiment for the fans: 'I really hope that on the last matchday, you all will have a smile on your face and just be happy and thankful that one of the most incredible careers that we will ever be a part of, that's how it is.'
As Salah prepares for his departure, Klopp's comments definitively quash the speculation surrounding his signing and cement the forward's status as a premeditated and celebrated cornerstone of Liverpool's modern era.
