Some Liverpool supporters believe we’re getting ripped off by spending £35m on Roma’s Mo Salah, but they’re wrong.
This kind of money has been regularly shelled out on average footballers over the past year, and Salah’s numbers in 2016/17 are as good as any winger in Europe.
Below, we’ve listed eight European transfers of similar price that took place last summer.
(Fees courtesy of Transfermarkt)
John Stones – City’s inconsistent centre-back – £47.26m
Joao Mario – distinctly average Portuguese midfielder – £34m
Michy Batshuayi – Chelsea’s backup forward – £33.15m
Shkodran Mustafi – Arsenal’s decent if injury-prone defender – £34.85m
Andre Gomes – Midfielder Messi has specifically told Barca to sell – £29.75m
Moussa Sissoko – Tottenham’s awful midfielder – £29.75m
Islam Slimani – Leicester’s backup striker – £25.5m
Yannick Bolasie – Everton’s former Palace winger – £25m
£35m is simply not the barbaric sum it once was, especially considering the mammoth £148m influx Liverpool received from the Premier League in 2016/17 for TV and prize money.
On top of that, consider that Salah plundered 19 goals in all competitions, is only 24-years-old and has missed just 18 games injured over the past seasons – Liverpool are getting very good value for money.
Reports in the Times suggest the transfer will be finalised by the end of the week and Liverpool fans should celebrate the Egyptian’s arrival.
Jurgen Klopp will now have the option of deploying Sadio Mane and Salah on either flank, as well using the new signing in Mane’s place if last season’s star is ever unavailable.
It’s a brilliant deal.