Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was keen to sign Manchester United’s £86million flop Antony as a replacement for Mohamed Salah, according to reports.
Salah, whose imperious goal-scoring form has fired Liverpool to the summit of the Premier League table after 11 games, is out of contract in the summer and yet to agree an extension at Anfield.
Speculation over the Egyptian’s future — and that of fellow Liverpool stars Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold — has been one of the major talking points on Merseyside this campaign, especially following Klopp’s exit at the end of last season.
If Salah does decide to leave Liverpool for a new chapter, a move abroad is deemed the most likely scenario, with a transfer to Saudi Arabia widely touted.
His exit would bring about a huge summer for Liverpool’s chiefs in terms of replacing him, given that Salah will already go down in history as one of the greatest Reds ever, with over 200 goals for the club.
Two summers ago, when Liverpool were in the process of negotiating a new deal with Salah and his agent Ramy Abbas, Klopp was eyeing up Antony as a potential replacement, according to The Times.
Jurgen Klopp was reportedly keen to sign Antony (above) as a replacement for Mohamed Salah
Salah’s future is uncertain at Liverpool, with the forward’s contract up at the end of the season
It is understood Klopp considered Antony two summers ago, before the star joined Man United
The newspaper claims that the Brazilian was discussed as an ‘option’ during a period of genuine uncertainty over Salah’s future.
Antony, instead, signed with Manchester United for an astronomical fee, teaming up with his former manager Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford in the summer of 2022.
His move has objectively been a disaster, with Antony racking up just 17 goal involvements in 87 appearances since the move.
The shrewd decision to swerve Antony, according to the outlet, falls at the door of Mike Gordon, Fenway Sports Group’s president who back then was responsible for the day-to-day running of the club.
Needless to say, it is highly unlikely Antony will be considered this time around under Arne Slot should Salah depart Anfield in the summer.
This season alone, the Man United winger has made just five appearances and started once, during the club’s 7-0 win over Barnsley in September.
Since arriving as the Red Devils’ second most expensive player in history behind Paul Pogba, Antony has fallen in the pecking order behind Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo on the wing.
Despite reports linking Salah to Saudi Arabia, Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has backed the Egyptian to remain at Anfield in the summer.
Antony signed for the Red Devils for £86m, the club’s second most expensive transfer ever
His move has since been branded a flop, given he has recorded just 17 goal involvements since
The Al-Ettifaq boss, who himself is under huge pressure at the Saudi Pro League giants, wants Salah to remain at Anfield for ‘another couple of years’ and heaped praise on the forward following yet another impressive start to the campaign.
Speaking on The Redmen TV podcast, the former Liverpool midfielder said: ‘I hope we still get another couple of years out of Mo Salah. I think he can deliver for many more years because of his shape, his professionalism.
‘So I hope he stays. I hope we get more out of him, but I’m not surprised because the ones that are obsessed of the profession and they’ve got that level of talent, it’s no surprise that the consistent levels are there all the time.’
Salah, who will hope to guide Liverpool to their second Premier League title under Slot this season, travels to the south coast to take on Southampton at St Mary’s this weekend.
