Liverpool Transfer News: How Mohamed Salah Would Line Up in Reds' Starting XI
December 24, 2013
In a bid to strengthen their claim for Premier League honours, it's become apparent that Liverpool may be edging in on their first deal of the January transfer window with FC Basel attacker Mohamed Salah.
It was recently revealed by a former teammate of the Egyptian's that Salah was "99 percent" certain of a move to Anfield this winter, but the question remains as to where Brendan Rodgers' January acquisition fits into the equation on Merseyside.
When asked about his compatriot's chances of a Liverpool move, the Daily Mail Online's Simon Jones has reported Mohamed Zika as saying of Salah:
Yes, I am 99 per cent sure this will happen.
He makes us and all of Egypt proud. Everybody talks about Mohamed Salah now – and aside from that he’s my friend. I’m very happy for him.
Salah's main position lies on the right wing for Basel, although a natural inclination to drift from flank to flank often results in the forward coming through the middle or down the left side.
Unlike Liverpool's current batch of wing talents, the 21-year-old often prefers to cut into his favoured foot from off the opposite flank. This contrasts with the likes of Victor Moses, Jordan Henderson and Raheem Sterling, all of whom Rodgers has preferred to field on their strongest sides.
With that being said, Salah has proved himself to be versatile in terms of his disposition as a winger, being capable of driving to the byline before delivering or making a more direct impact when turning into the central channels himself.
With Philippe Coutinho in the squad, the Reds already have an attacking midfielder of immense quality through the middle, but Salah could also offer up cover for the Brazilian, albeit not having a skill set as focused around playmaking as Coutinho's.
Liverpool's wide areas are filled with options but are arguably as bereft of world-class quality as any other area of the Reds' squad.
In their own respects, Henderson, Sterling, Moses and Iago Aspas to a lesser extent, have all been impressive on the flanks, but the introduction of another fine talent out wide would certainly not go astray.
With that being the case, Salah's arrival would provide competition on both sides of the pitch, but the Egyptian would arguably be Rodgers' finest left-footed option were a move to materialise, putting Moses' spot on the left flank under more pressure than ever.
Like Coutinho, the Basel youngster is another versatile starlet capable of filling into numerous roles, but Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge would benefit from the additional supply coming in from the left thanks to a Salah addition.