Liverpool close in on club record £40m signing of Mohamed Salah

The Egypt international has been a priority for Liverpool since last season drew to a close and talks have been going on since last month with Roma, who initially rejected a £28million offer for him at the start of June.

Michael Edwards, Liverpool's Sporting Director, has continued in negotiations with Monchi, his counterpart in Rome, and a deal has now been structured that with add-ons, will see Liverpool pay more than the £35million they invested in Andy Carroll in January 2011. The final fee may be closer to £40million.

Salah, who initially rejected Liverpool three years ago to join Chelsea, has agreed a deal that will nearly double his wages to £90,000 per week and he was due to leave Cairo for London on Tuesday morning.

It could be that Salah, who contributed 19 assists for Roma last season after joining them for £13million, now undergoes his medical on Wednesday and his arrival would give Liverpool the pace on the flank that they missed last season when Sadio Mane was absent.

Julian Brandt, the Germany international, had initially been Jurgen Klopp's main focus for a new wide player but he opted to stay at Bayer Leverkusen and Salah will be Liverpool's second signing of the summer following Dominic Solanke, whose move from Chelsea will be subject to a transfer tribunal.

Virgil Van Dijk, the Southampton defender, had Klopp's prime target for this window but Liverpool were forced to withdraw their interest and apologise to Southampton after allegations of tapping up but whether that saga is over remains to be seen.

Red Bull Leipzig's Naby Keita is another whom Klopp is despetrate to sign but his club insist he is not for sale. Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, the Borussia Dortmund striker, has been linked with Liverpool but he is not a target.

Source: MailOnline

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.