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Michael Edwards begged Jurgen Klopp to sign Liverpool icon before making 'early decision'

Liverpool chief Michael Edwards was desperate to sign one of Europe's hottest talents before the club's recruitment team made an 'early decision' to bring the star to Anfield

Jurgen Klopp chats with Liverpool's then sporting director Michael Edwards(Image: John Powell)

Liverpool chief Michael Edwards once had to convince Jurgen Klopp to give him the green-light for a game-changing signing.

The club's former sporting director - hailed for leading the shrewd transfer business that saw the Reds become Premier League and Champions League winners under the German manager - returned to Anfield this week in a new role as 'CEO of Football'. He will now fulfil a more senior role, with tasks including helping to appoint a new boss when Klopp leaves this summer.

During his first stint in Merseyside, the 44-year-old made a series of inspired buys, including current captain Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool legends Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, and brilliant bargains Andrew Robertson and Joel Matip. He also boosted the club coffers with some stellar sales, like flogging Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona for £146m.


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But he is said to have had to plead with Klopp to make arguably the greatest signing of his tenure, Mohamed Salah, in the summer of 2017. The club's recruitment team carried out extensive checks on the Egyptian during his time in Italy with both Fiorentina and Roma, and were impressed with what they saw.

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It wasn't long before the Anfield hierarchy were licking their lips at the prospect of Salah parading down the wing - irrespective of any doubts over his quality, after a failed spell at Chelsea earlier in his career. His productivity was among the best in Europe for a wide player and Roma's valuation was realistic and complied with the financial scope Liverpool were working with.

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Mohamed Salah has scored 206 goals in 336 games for Liverpool
Mohamed Salah has scored 206 goals in 336 games for Liverpool

The Daily Express reported how Klopp previously recalled just how much Edwards and the rest of the recruitment team wanted to sign Salah before he signed off the deal. "We watched Salah so often, saw him so often," said Klopp.

"The scouting department was really behind me, and wanted to do it even earlier so that nobody could jump in! We were sure he can help us. Michael Edwards, Dave Fallows and Barry (Hunter), they were really in my ear and were on it 'Come on, come on, Mo Salah, he's the solution!'.


"When you have 20 players on the table, different players, it's difficult to make an early decision, but we all were convinced about it so could make the early decision so we could really get him. He's a fantastic person, a nice lad and a really good football player."

Mohamed Salah has scored 206 goals in 336 games for Liverpool
Mohamed Salah shone for Roma after a miserable spell at Chelsea(Image: AFP/Getty Images)

Salah has gone on to become an all-time great of English football and a global superstar, winning every major honour along the way - bar the Europa League. His strike in that competition against Sparta Prague in a 6-1 win at Anfield on Thursday night saw him become the first Liverpool player to score 20 or more goals in all competitions in seven successive seasons.

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Now aged 31, the Reds icon is believed to be valued at around three times the £38m paid to Roma, although Liverpool are said to have no intentions of letting him go. He currently has around 15 months left on his contract at Anfield.

Roma legend Francesco Totti once explained the Italian club were left with no option but to cash in on his friend and former team-mate Salah, due to their financial status. "He [Salah] did not abandon us [Roma]," Totti said during an Instagram live.

"At that time the company was in crisis. It was not he who left, let's clarify things."

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