Richard Hughes is likely to be signing his own Mohamed Salah for Liverpool this summer.

Let’s rewind to the 2013/14 season. Liverpool were soaring under Brendan Rodgers but sought another attacking option.

Their recruitment team identified Mohamed Salah, an Egyptian winger from FC Basel. Liverpool made an approach to sign him.

However, Chelsea ultimately secured his signature. Jose Mourinho convinced him to join the Blues instead. Who knows how history might have changed?

Had Salah worn Liverpool’s red on that infamous day when Steven Gerrard slipped, things might have ended differently.

Yet fate had a way of bringing Salah back to Anfield three years later. The rest is history.

This summer, Liverpool could sign a player who had a similar near-miss—only this time, it has taken nine years.

Why Liverpool will sign Alexander Isak

Recent reports suggest Liverpool are leading the race to sign Alexander Isak. talkSPORT claims they are willing to offer players in a swap deal with Newcastle.

The Times has also reported Newcastle’s interest in Jarell Quansah.

Combining these reports, it seems Richard Hughes is close to sealing a deal for Isak—something Michael Edwards failed to do.

Back in 2016, Isak was already on Liverpool’s radar, according to Sport. The club tracked him as an emerging teenage talent at AIK.

Liverpool wanted to strengthen Jurgen Klopp’s squad, but, like Salah in 2014, Isak’s move never materialized.

Instead, he joined Borussia Dortmund, lured by their reputation for developing young talent.

Under Thomas Tuchel, Isak was given few opportunities—just as Mourinho overlooked Salah at Chelsea.

This period cast doubt on Isak’s potential, but statistics suggest he showed more than enough promise.

He played just 236 minutes for Dortmund in the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal but averaged 0.38 goals and 0.38 assists per 90 minutes.

Essentially, he recorded 0.72 goal contributions per 90—impressive for a so-called “failed attacker.”

In Dortmund’s second team, Isak averaged 0.63 goal contributions per 90, contributing to nearly 40% of their goals.

Before the 2017/18 season, he scored four goals in a 5-2 pre-season win for Dortmund’s first team.

So, it’s hard to argue that he didn’t deserve more opportunities at Dortmund.

Isak was a key figure in Dortmund II and made an impact in the first team when given a chance.

For context, this season, he has contributed to 51% of Newcastle’s Premier League goals—similar to his Dortmund output.

Sometimes, players just need opportunities. Salah is the perfect example of that.