Mohamed Salah And Georginio Wijnaldum Were Not Jurgen Klopp First Choices At Liverpool, Journalist Reveals

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp wanted two other players before opting to sign Mohamed Salah and Georginio Wijnaldum, according to journalist Kristian Walsh.

Wijnaldum joined Liverpool from Newcastle two summers ago, but it was Napoli star Piotr Zielinski who was Klopp’s chief target back then.

As for Mohamed Salah, the Egyptian set the Premier League alight upon his return, winning the Golden Boot at the end of his first season with Liverpool. However, Bayer Leverkusen’s Julian Brandt could have been the one to come in instead if Klopp had his way, per Walsh.

“Before Gini Wijnaldum, Piotr Zielinski was pursued, with Udinese proving curiously difficult to negotiate with,” he wrote in the ECHO.

“Zielinski has now established himself at Napoli, while Wijnaldum has become a key part of the Reds’ midfield. Last summer, Julian Brandt opted to remain at Bayer Leverkusen despite interest from Klopp, with Mohamed Salah arriving instead.

“It was a move which clearly paid dividends for Liverpool – but Brandt enjoyed a good season himself, ending with selection for the World Cup ahead of Leroy Sane.”