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Liverpool: Agent Lifts Lid On Failed Transfer
It appears Liverpool took too long in their negotiations for Mohamed Salah which raises concerns over the club's approach to transfers...
Egyptian star Mohamed Salah's recent move to Chelsea followed several months of intense speculation that the Basle forward was Anfield bound.
Indeed many sources, aided by comments from people close to the player, reported a move to Liverpool as being as good as done several weeks ago.
For all intents and purposes, Salah was Liverpool's top January transfer target and the 21-year-old was also thought to be keen on making the switch to Merseyside.
As it transpired nothing materialised and the attacker duly joined Chelsea after the Londoners moved swiftly to replace a Manchester United-bound Juan Mata.
The development has subsequently left several fans and journalists questioning Liverpool's approach to transfers and negotiating.
Salah's agent, Sascha Empacher, has even seemingly accused the club of dithering in their protracted pursuit of his client.
"It was a long and fair negotiation with Liverpool, but it lasted two-and-a-half months - too long," said Empacher.
"Both clubs could not agree on terms. When Chelsea contacted Basel, he was happy and took his chance. It was no financial matter."
Liverpool's transfer dealings are currently handled by a committee of individuals which includes manager Brendan Rodgers and managing director Ian Ayre.
Such a setup raises several question marks, including; how is a value placed upon a target if individuals disagree, who decides how much to bid and when and who has the final say?
Ayre has suggested the decision to go to Chelsea was Salah's but that seems to contradict all other opinion and comment on the matter which points to Liverpool's failure to agree a fee with Basle.
The Blues are believed to have paid around £12million, depending on who you believe, whereas the Merseysiders were offering as little as £8million and haggling over add-ons and incentives.
Commenting on the matter, as he prepared for tonight's crucial Merseyside Derby with Everton, a clearly frustrated Rodgers appeared to lay the blame on those in control of the purse strings.
"We know what the value of the player is and how far we were prepared to go. We won't over-pay," commented the 41-year-old at his pre-match press conference.
When asked why the Reds failed to offer the necessary funds, the 41-year-old replied: "That's for the money guys to say that. It was deemed in this case we couldn't do a deal and Chelsea could.
"It's the construction of the whole deal, not only with the player and the agent but Basel as a football club."
Read more:
http://www.liverpool.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=347262#ixzz2rgflxsMO
