Former Liverpool icon Graeme Souness recently made headlines by raising £1.5 million for charity through a remarkable English Channel swim at the age of 70.
Despite a recent victory against Newcastle, where Liverpool triumphed with ten players, the team faces a precarious situation. Jurgen Klopp’s plans for midfield reinforcement were derailed twice by Chelsea’s swoops, missing out on Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia in a £170 million overhaul at Anfield.
Even with the impending arrival of Ryan Gravenberch from Bayern Munich, Souness issues a stark warning: “This is a dangerous moment for Liverpool.” Saudi champions Al Ittihad are prepared to make an astonishing £130 million bid for Mo Salah, a football superstar in the Arab-speaking world, accompanied by a lucrative nine-figure salary offer.
Replacing the staggering 187 goals contributed by Salah over six years is no easy task. With over two weeks left in the Saudi transfer window, Souness fears Liverpool may be swimming against the tide in retaining Salah, and he understands the consequences of such a loss.
Souness elaborates, “If Salah were to depart, enticed by the enormous rewards in the Middle East due to his Egyptian heritage, losing over 20 goals from the team would be an irreplaceable blow at this juncture. Liverpool would have to dig deep into their pockets to secure a replacement, given the premium attached to such transfers.”
The void left by Salah’s potential departure raises questions about who will step up to fill his goal-scoring shoes, with names like Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez being considered. The decision on Salah’s future lies with Liverpool’s pragmatic American owners, who must weigh the option of cashing in now versus retaining him for another year and the potential risks associated with such choices.
Souness also expresses concerns beyond the Salah situation. During his illustrious seven-year tenure as the driving force in Liverpool’s midfield, he achieved three European Cups, five titles, and four League Cups, a testament to the club’s historical success when strengthening during their peak.
Klopp’s recent midfield overhaul is now complete, but Souness questions whether it should have commenced after Liverpool narrowly missed the Quadruple last year.
In discussing Liverpool’s new midfield signings, Souness acknowledges his liking for players like Dominik Szoboszlai and his admiration for Alexis Mac Allister and Wataru Endo. However, he emphasizes the demanding nature of the Premier League compared to the Bundesliga, cautioning against presuming instant success.
Souness concludes with a reflection on the timing of squad improvements, emphasizing that strengthening during a team’s peak yields more favourable results than reacting under pressure. His insights underscore the differences in transfer strategies between his era at Liverpool and the current landscape, where high-profile signings are often made to address immediate needs.
