According to Jamie Carragher, Liverpool made the right major transfer decision. Klopp Jürgen “didn’t want”

Jamie Carragher described how Jürgen Klopp’s transfer preference was once met with resistance by a “adamant” Liverpool, demonstrating the proper way to conduct business.

According to Jamie Carragher, Liverpool’s 2017 decision to sign Mohamed Salah over Julian Brandt is evidence that managers shouldn’t always have their way. Although Jürgen Klopp had initially targeted his countryman, Salah ultimately cost $45 million (£35 million/€41 million).

The Reds manager had originally intended to bring the winger from Bayern Leverkusen to the Premier League, but Liverpool chose to go with the Egyptian. Though Brandt was linked to a $32 million (£25 million/€29 million) move, he declined Liverpool’s advances.

Salah has been a big success at Liverpool despite his early problems at Chelsea. The 31-year-old has smashed multiple records and won multiple awards, including the Premier League and Champions League.

Carragher talked about who ought to have a say in player signings on a Stick to Football programme. Ian Wright, Roy Keane, Jill Scott, and Gary Neville joined him. They disagreed on whether market business should be controlled by individuals in the dugout or by recruitment teams and data-driven transfer transactions.

“When he first came in, an interesting one was Mohamed Salah, and Jürgen Klopp is open about this,” Carragher stated on the Stick to Football podcast. Julian Brandt was the one he wanted to sign, not him.

“The people behind the scenes at Liverpool were still there when Salah moved to Roma, and they were really certain that they had to sign this guy. Liverpool had attempted to sign Salah prior to him joining Chelsea. You see what Mohamed Salah has accomplished, but things very easily could have turned out otherwise.

“A manager shouldn’t have a player forced on him, but I do think the notion that managers should purchase every player is wrong. It worries me that it seems like Erik ten Hag has acquired every player he knows at Manchester United, therefore I don’t think a manager should be free to do as they like.”

Brandt is currently making headlines in Germany with Borussia Dortmund, Klopp’s former team. The 27-year-old has shown himself; he made 215 appearances for Leverkusen before joining Dortmund, where he has participated in almost 200 matches.

Making the move to Anfield ‘wasn’t right’ according to Brandt. He told The Athletic in 2023, “I had that opportunity to take that next step to join Liverpool, but the time wasn’t right for me.” “At the time, I knew they were also examining Mo Salah. I would have wanted to play for Kloppo, so it’s unfortunate.”

According to Liverpool.com, very few people will ever know how close Liverpool was to acquiring Brandt rather than Salah or how hard Klopp worked to acquire his man. However, it’s safe to state that the ultimate choice was made correctly.

To be fair, Brandt’s career after leaving Liverpool suggests he may have succeeded there, but it’s unlikely he would have risen to the status of one of the greatest players in the world as Salah did. This was definitely a “sliding doors” moment, demonstrating the importance of departmental coordination when it comes to hiring decisions.