20 transfers that were hijacked by rival clubs: Part 2

Mohamed Salah: Joined Chelsea instead of Liverpool (2014)

Mohamed Salah and Basel could not come to an agreement with Liverpool

Mohamed Salah had done enough at FC Basel to impress scouts from Liverpool who were keen to make a January transfer for the 22-year-old forward who could play on the wings.

However, the Reds only offered to pay £8m for his services. On the other hand, Chelsea were ready to pay £12m to sign the Egypt international. Ultimately, it came down to a phone call from Jose Mourinho who convinced Salah that he needed him, especially after the departure of Mata to Manchester United.

But it wasn’t just Chelsea’s financial clout that made the deal happen. The player’s agent confirmed that Liverpool’s negotiations were long and protracted (almost three months) while the negotiations with Chelsea were far quicker.