Despite reports to the contrary from earlier in the week, Liverpool remain locked in talks with Italian outfit AS Roma as the two clubs look to find common ground and hash out a fee for highly rated winger Mohamed Salah — a deal that’s taking longer than expected to complete.
“We don’t intend to sell players and we want to give the boss a competitive squad,” said Roma director of football Monchi when asked about transfer dealings. “As to the two names mentioned, it’s true that some people like them,” continued the Spaniard, speaking in generalities about not only Salah, but Chelsea target Antonio Rudiger. “An English club likes Salah, and we’ll decide what price to set depending on the circumstances.”
And those “circumstances” remain complicated; according to Italian media outlet Corriere dello Sport, the Giallorossi are under the kosh when it comes to UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules and must balance their books by the end of the month. While the sale of Salah should put them in the black, the two clubs remain locked in talks over just how much the Egyptian is worth. Liverpool, of course, don’t want to overpay and Roma, who got him for a song after a less than productive spell with Chelsea, want to wring every last cent from a player that bagged 19-goals in all competitions last year.
“As I’ve said before, Roma is not a supermarket,” stressed Monchi, sticking to his guns. “We’re starting from the second place we just achieved, and we’ll fight for our goals,” continued the Roma man. “If someone leaves, he’ll have to be replaced well,” added the Spaniard. “There are no open talks apart from Salah.”
