Jurgen Klopp has hailed Liverpool’s £36.9 million summer signing Mohamed Salah, highlighting the winger’s pace as the key attribute to boost his side.
Salah became the club’s most expensive signing when he made the move from AS Roma last month, wiping Andy Carroll from the record books in the process.
The 25-year-old is yet to join up with Klopp’s squad for pre-season training, with anticipation mounting ahead of his likely arrival for the trip to Hong Kong later this month.
Joining as a similar player to last summer’s big-money addition, Sadio Mane, Salah will be able to interchange with the winger as part of a formidable attacking line.
And like Mane, Salah’s speed will give Liverpool a major threat in the final third, as Klopp explained this week.
“Even if people didn’t know too much about him, they [must have] watched a few videos and they are impressive,” he told LiverpoolFC.com.
“We have had a few talks of course, spoke to each other—he is a really nice lad.
“He is really looking forward to coming to Liverpool and joining us. He is a fantastic player, with speed.
“We said after last season, there are a few things we would try to involve in an already really good squad.
“One of the things is speed, being kind of a finisher, preparing chances, making goals and all that stuff. He brings all this in.
“He is a naturally fit boy—he can run as quick and as long as he wants. That’s all good. I’m really looking forward to [working with him].”
When Mane was absent at the Africa Cup of Nations and, then, through injury last season, Klopp had no like-for-like alternative in attack.
This saw the German experiment with the likes of Adam Lallana, Georginio Wijnaldum and Daniel Sturridge in a wide role, before ultimately switching his formation in the closing stages.
Now, Klopp will be able to call upon two lightning-fast forwards capable of cutting through defences with ease.
The prospect of Mane and Salah lining up either side of the industrious, dynamic Roberto Firmino, with Philippe Coutinho pulling the strings behind, is mouthwatering.
Such is the avarice nature of the transfer market, many supporters have already moved on from the signing of Salah, with focus now turning to the pursuit of RB Leipzig’s Naby Keita.
But in the Egypt international, Liverpool have acquired a top-level talent capable of lifting Klopp’s attack even further.
