Chelsea have been told not to pursue a deal for Mohamed Salah, should the opportunity to sign the Liverpool FC ace present itself.
Salah’s contract with the Reds is due to expire at the end of the season, but it was with Chelsea back in the mid-2010s that the Egyptian first featured in the Premier League.
Unlike his seven-year stint with Liverpool though, Salah failed to catch the eye in a Chelsea shirt, managing just two goals and three assists in 19 appearances for the Blues.
By contrast, Salah has netted on 227 occasions for Liverpool, as well as providing a further 100 assists during the 371 games he’s played for the club.
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Despite his prolific form in front of goal, ex-Chelsea defender William Gallas doesn’t believe Salah would be a good signing for Enzo Maresca to make.
Justifying his claim, Gallas told Prime Casino: “I think Chelsea should reject the chance to sign Mohamed Salah as a free agent this summer, I think he would be a disruption on the squad.
“The current Chelsea team are all learning and growing together and it’s working for Enzo Maresca. They are all part of a generation with no big egos, despite Cole Palmer being the focal point.”
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He added: “I think bringing in a player like Salah wouldn’t be good for the balance of the squad, despite his form in the Premier League and how it would weaken Liverpool.”
A bold claim, but one which might have some legs behind it. Under Maresca, Chelsea haven’t struggled for goals, with the two-time European champions having found the net six times more than league leaders Liverpool.
It’s down the opposite end where Chelsea have struggled for consistency, conceding 18 goals in the league so far - well over an average of one per game.
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Whether that’s enough to maintain a spot towards the top end of the table, or perhaps even challenge Liverpool for the title itself, will be decided in the weeks and months to come.
Their efforts will continue this weekend at home to Brentford - a fixture Chelsea have struggled with in years gone by.
But it marks the start of what could prove a profitable run for Maresca and co, as Chelsea play just one team currently in the top eight between now and mid-January when they travel to the reigning, but underperforming Premier League champions Manchester City.
