The impact of Mohamed Salah at Liverpool has been undeniable. Since his arrival in 2017, the Egyptian has become a club legend, contributing to historic titles and impressive records. However, the story could have been very different. Recently, Ian Graham, former director of research at Liverpool, revealed that Jürgen Klopp was not convinced about signing Salah and initially preferred Julian Brandt.

Klopp reveals Salah didn’t excite him

When Liverpool was looking to strengthen its attack in the summer of 2017, Jürgen Klopp had Julian Brandt in mind, a promising German midfielder who was shining in the Bundesliga. Familiar with the German market from his time at Borussia Dortmund, the coach saw Brandt as the ideal addition to his squad.

However, the club’s analytics department, led by Ian Graham, suggested an alternative: Mohamed Salah. According to Graham, Liverpool needed a pure winger, someone with speed and dribbling ability—qualities that suited the Egyptian much better.

Despite his initial skepticism, Klopp remained open to discussion and asked for evidence proving that Salah was the better choice. The performance data of the then AS Roma player eventually convinced the German manager, who gave the green light to the transfer. Additionally, Roma’s financial struggles at the time allowed Liverpool to secure the deal for around €42 million—an investment that later proved to be one of the most valuable in the club’s history.

A signing that changed Liverpool’s history

Since arriving at Anfield, Salah has transformed the team’s attack, forming one of the most feared front trios in world football alongside Sadio Mané and Roberto Firmino. His numbers speak for themselves: over 240 goals and more than 100 assists in nearly 400 matches for the Reds.

Under Klopp's leadership, the Egyptian has been instrumental in winning major trophies, including the Champions League in 2019 and the long-awaited Premier League in 2020, ending a 30-year title drought.

Now, with Liverpool on course for another English league title, Salah could be preparing to say goodbye with another trophy. His contract expires on June 30, and he has yet to renew, fueling speculation about a possible departure. If he leaves, the "Pharaoh’s" legacy at Anfield will remain one of the most glorious in the club’s history.