Mohamed Salah backed to make dramatic Liverpool U-turn as fresh Andoni Iraola verdict delivered
Mohamed Salah brought the curtain down on his trophy-laden Liverpool career against Brentford at Anfield last month - but he is yet to join a new club
Michael Owen believes Mohamed Salah could still perform a dramatic U-turn and return to Liverpool this summer. Salah announced in March that he would bring the curtain down on his illustrious career at Anfield following the conclusion of this season.
The forward reached an agreement with the Reds that would see him depart the club on a free transfer, and it came after he launched a tirade against Arne Slot in December. Salah then delivered a withering assessment of Liverpool’s style of play and called for a return to the “heavy metal attacking team that opponents fear and wins trophies” following the defeat to Aston Villa last month.
But since then Slot has been sacked and replaced by Andoni Iraola, and even though Owen admits it is highly unlikely, he believes there is still a chance that Salah could re-join Liverpool this summer.
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He said: “Is it impossible that there's a U-turn? I think it's not beyond the realm that if Slot had been sacked during the season, Salah might have seen out his contract under a new manager.
"I don't think it's beyond the realms. Maybe they've gone too far, though, now. Obviously now that he's done his wave goodbye and all the rest of it, it's probably gone too far now to make a big U-turn.
"If they sacked Slot five games before the end, then maybe a U-turn could have happened then. Maybe it's still not fully beyond the realms of possibility."
Liverpool announced the £34.5million capture of Victor Munoz on Thursday and have told RB Leipzig they will pay about £86million for Yan Diomande as they look to add attacking reinforcements to their squad.
But Owen believes West Ham United’s Jarrod Bowen is the perfect player to replace Salah at Anfield.
"I would say that Liverpool need a right-sided attacking player,” he said. “I've mentioned before, I think Jarrod Bowen is a really good solution.
"That being said, they also definitely need a centre-half. Liverpool bought for the future by buying two young players. One did his knee straight away and one did his shoulder.
"(Virgil) Van Dijk and obviously one or two players can play in that position, but I would have thought a centre-half and a right-sided attacking player would be first priority."
Slot was dismissed following an end-of-season review that decreed his playing style was no longer the right fit for the club.
The Dutchman also paid the price for Liverpool’s disappointing defence of their Premier League title and the fact his side lost 19 times in all competitions.
And Owen, speaking via Casino.org, is excited by the prospect of former Bournemouth boss Iraola taking over at Anfield.
He said: "You can question most appointments, can't you? There's rarely an absolute perfect fit. But you would say from a positive point of view, he's young, he's hungry.
“He plays a style of play that Liverpool fans have been used to, certainly in previous years under Jurgen Klopp. There's lots going for him.
"What are the question marks? I guess not having managed at this level or this size of club, and can his style of play sort of last through for a season? Do you burn your players out quickly? I don't know, they're questions that are going to be answered.
"I'm certainly excited by the appointment. Not every appointment is perfect on paper, but they can develop into being perfect. And Iraola's has a lot of the right credentials on paper."
