Jurgen Klopp has admitted it was his backroom staff that persuaded him to sign Mohamed Salah over the summer, report the Liverpool Echo.

The Egyptian has been a revelation since his £36.9m switch from Roma in June, scoring 12 goals in his first 17 appearances for the Reds. His brace helped Klopp's side to a 4-1 win at West Ham on Saturday.

And after the game Klopp paid tribute to the 25-year-old, and revealed how his signing was very much a collective effort.

“We watched Salah so often, saw him so often,” he said. “The scouting department was really behind me, and wanted to do it even earlier so that nobody could jump in!

Jurgen Klopp embraces Mohamed Salah (
Image:
REUTERS)

“We were sure he can help us. Michael Edwards, Dave Fallows and Barry [Hunter], they were really in my ear and were on it: ‘Come on, come on, Mo Salah, he’s the solution!'

“When you have 20 players on the table, different players, it’s difficult to make an early decision, but we all were convinced about it so could make the early decision so we could really get him. He’s a fantastic person, a nice lad and a really good football player.”

Salah scored twice against West Ham (
Image:
AFP)

Klopp was also asked whether he set a target for Salah in terms of goals this season – he is already closing in on Philippe Coutinho's tally from last season (14).

“I didn’t think if he can score 12 goals or whatever in 17 games,” he said. “But I hope he’s not finished now!

“That would be nice, if we talk after the season about different numbers - and both numbers should be much higher.”

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