Football journalist Matt Hughes believes that Liverpool cannot expect an instant impact from Mohamed Salah, who is reportedly the club’s top transfer target of the summer. After recently dropping out of the race to sign Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool are focusing their entire efforts on bringing the former Chelsea winger to Anfield. Salah has been one of the standout players in the Italian Serie A last season. He managed to come up with an incredible 15 goals and 13 assists in 31 league appearances last season. His incredible performances have seen his transfer value skyrocket in the last 12 months.

Roma signed Salah from Chelsea for around €15 million. However, they are reportedly demanding more than twice this figure, as the Egyptian winger is now valued at around £ 35 million. The transfer fees is proving to be the stumbling block as well, as Roma’s intent to sell the player after having finally found quality. Roma came close to winning the Italian Serie A last season. The club will be playing in the Champions League once again. They are aware that selling some of the best players will once again put them back into square one, especially after having undergone a managerial change with Luciano Spalletti leaving the club at the end of the season.

Salah has the pace and injection to be able to make an impact in any role. He failed to make an impact at Chelsea largely because he was starved of first-team opportunities. Yet, Hughes believes that the player will struggle to adapt straight away in the Premier League, as it is a considerably faster league compared to the Italian Serie A. Salah has been able to excel in Italy since he has been using his pace in conjunction with his ability to score a goal quite well. However, Hughes reckons that the player will not get the same kind of time and space in English football, as he has found out earlier in his career. Speaking to The Times’ Game podcast (Source: thesportreview) He said:

“I’ve seen Salah play brilliantly for Basel against Chelsea a few years ago. He was anonymous at Chelsea.

“He didn’t real get a chance but when he did, he looked short on confidence.

“I’d have my reservations about his ability to have an immediate impact on Premier League.”

Liverpool can gain confidence from the fact that Salah’s contract with Roma does not last very long, as it only runs out until 2019. At 24 years of age, even a £ 40 million transfer fee for the player will not feel excessive, as we are in a time when players cost a lot of money.