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Mohamed Salah, Liverpool Agree to Long-Term Contract After Roma Transfer

Rory Marsden@@roomarsdenFeatured ColumnistJune 22, 2017

Roma's midfielder from Egypt Mohamed Salah eyes the ball during the Italian Serie A football match Roma vs Juventus, on May 14, 2017 at Rome's Olympic stadium. / AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTE        (Photo credit should read FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images)
FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/Getty Images

Liverpool have completed the signing of Mohamed Salah from Roma on a "long-term" deal, with the Egyptian returning to the Premier League for the first time since 2015. Roma confirmed the transfer fee was €42 million. 

David Lynch of the club's official website announced his capture on Thursday. Salah said:

"I’m very excited to be here. I’m very happy.

"I will give 100 per cent and give everything for the club. I really want to win something for this club.

"We have a great team and very good players. I was watching the games last year and everyone was giving 100 per cent to win something.

"Everyone can see the coach gives everything. I hope to see that together we can give everything to win something for the club, for the supporters and for us."

Goal's Melissa Reddy reported the contract to be five years. Reddy also believes he will prove to be an excellent signing:

Melissa Reddy @MelissaReddy_

Goals and more goals, assists and more assists... Added to that, Salah is tireless, driven and stylistically perfect for #LFC

Melissa Reddy @MelissaReddy_

He’ll also reduce the dependence on Mane’s speed and act as another direct, dizzying outlet. Another game changer for #LFC.

The Reds tried to sign Salah, 25, back in 2014, but he opted to move to Chelsea instead.

The Egypt international failed to settle at Stamford Bridge, moving to Fiorentina on loan in early 2015. He then went to Roma on loan in August of the same year before making the permanent move to Italy's capital.

He thrived in Serie A and enjoyed an excellent 2016-17 as Roma finished second in the Italian top flight, netting 15 goals and providing 11 assists in 31 appearances, per WhoScored.com.

VERONA, ITALY - MAY 20:  Mohamed Salah (R) of  AS Roma scores  his team's fourth goal during the Serie A match between AC ChievoVerona and AS Roma at Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi on May 20, 2017 in Verona, Italy.  (Photo by Dino Panato/Getty Images)
Dino Panato/Getty Images

Liverpool need added depth in attack. During 2016-17, when they were only competing domestically, they suffered when fatigue and injuries saw Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho's contributions drop off in the second half of the season.

Liverpool will be back in the UEFA Champions League next term, and manager Jurgen Klopp needs a much stronger squad if the Reds are to compete on all fronts.

Salah should be a fine addition to provide competition and cover in the attacking ranks at Anfield and has the attributes to work perfectly in Klopp's system alongside Mane, Coutinho and Firmino.

He can play on either flank or through the middle, boasts fine pace and link-up play and is the calibre of signing Liverpool need to be making if they are to impress further next season.