Liverpool may have splashed out an initial £64 million on Darwin Nunez, with that transfer potentially becoming the most expensive in the club’s history, but no deal they did in the summer of 2022 was ever going to be as important as getting Mohamed Salah to sign a new contract.
Change may not always be welcome in sporting circles, with continuity and stability much sought-after commodities, but it is never a bad thing either as positive progress only occurs when forward-thinking is embraced.
For those on the red half of Merseyside, a fabled front three that will forever hold a special place in the hearts and minds of those that have been fortunate to catch them in action was inevitably going to be broken up at some stage.
To have had five trophy-laden seasons out of Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino is some achievement, but Jurgen Klopp has known for some time that a day was coming in which he would be unable to call upon a tried-and-tested trio.
With that in mind, moves have been made to acquire Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz and now the considerable potential of Uruguayan frontman Nunez. While Liverpool will always fondly remember their past, they are also aware of the need to look after the present and build towards a bright future.
Mane has become the first to jump ship, with the Senegalese forward taking his considerable skill set off to Bayern Munich, while questions are being asked about how long Brazilian star Firmino will be sticking around as he enters the final 12 months of his contract.
A love letter to @MoSalah from the people of Liverpool…❤️#SalahStays pic.twitter.com/HfQN8Lu2Ez
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 1, 2022
Salah, though, is staying put and the value of extended terms for the Egyptian king cannot be underestimated. He has been a revelation for the Reds since being prised away from Roma in 2017, with over 100 goals recorded in the Premier League while passing 150 in total as history books have been re-written.
Jurgen Klopp has said of getting a talismanic presence tied down: “I have no doubt Mo’s best years are still to come. And that’s saying something because the first five seasons here have been the stuff of legend.” If that prophecy rings true, then the rest of the world had better watch out.
A sense of calm
Speculation regarding Salah’s future intentions, as he also approached the final year of his deal at Anfield, had threatened to become a serious distraction for Liverpool at one stage. With eyes needing to be kept fixed on the ball, the Reds were in danger of allowing their gaze to wander.
Potential disaster has now been averted, with the expectation being that more major silverware is there to be chased down. Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, and League Cup crowns have already been secured, so Liverpool fans around the world can rejoice with relief. It’s not just avid supporters on English soil feeling the pressure subside.
According to the best football betting website (เว็บพนันบอลที่ดีที่สุด), with various bonuses and markets available, an ever-growing fan base in Asia can back their heroes at 2/1 with Dafabet to land another domestic title in 2022-23 and 8/5 to open the campaign with a Community Shield victory over old adversaries Manchester City. Fans in Bangkok turned out in their droves to welcome Klopp’s men to Thailand ahead of a pre-season clash with Manchester United in July, which further highlights their mass appeal and ability to garner support. With so much talent at his disposal, considerable faith will continue to be shown in the German tactician as he endeavours to counter departures and keep collective focus locked on the grandest of prizes.
Mohamed Salah signs a new contract with Liverpool until 2025 pic.twitter.com/BsSOvigciu
— GOAL (@goal) July 1, 2022
Mohd Salah will have a leading role to play in that quest, having shown himself to be the most reliable of options when inspiration from somewhere is sought. With three Golden Boots and two PFA Player of the Year awards to his name, standing among the all-time greats is already safely secured.
He is the most ambitious of characters though and, as alluded to by his current manager, will believe that his game can be taken to even greater heights. Taking that into account, he will once again be the best piece of business that Liverpool has done during a summer transfer window.
That box was ticked for the first time some five years ago, with the remarkable value found in a £36.5 million investment of faith and funds that have been repaid with interest several times over. Plenty of other big-money deals have been done since then, but in 2022 Salah has – for a second time – become the shrewdest of signings for Liverpool Football Club.
