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The last summer transfer window was one of the busiest in recent years. It featured a lot of mouth-watering fees, with half of the 20 Premier League clubs breaking their transfer records. Manchester City spent over £200 million on their defense budget while Monaco CF were the top earners, making up to £289 million profit from the transfer window.
Many memorable events took place in the summer, but it was Neymar's world record transfer to Paris Saint Germain that dominated the headlines. The Brazilian departed FC Barcelona for PSG after the French outfit decided to pay his release clause worth £222 million. Neymar has settled down in his new club and has helped the Parisians to reclaim the Ligue 1 title, putting in a lot of impressive displays in the campaign.
Another interesting event was Liverpool's acquisition of Egyptian winger, Mohamed Salah. The English club completed the signing of the winger from Roma in a big bargain deal worth £34.3 million.
Ever since the 25-year old moved to the Anfield, he has consistently tarnished the fee that was paid for his purchase with a lot of fantastic performances in the Premier League. In fact, his high level of performance has continuously caused a lot of arguments among football fans. While some people believe that Neymar is ahead of Salah, others believe that the Egyptian is above the world's most expensive player.
Looking at their performances for their respective clubs this season, though, Salah is definitely the signing of the season. Below are 5 unimpeachable reasons to back it up.
#5 Performances
It is important to note that both Neymar and Salah have been at fantastic levels this season, but when it comes to deciding who has been the better player, the Egyptian clearly has the edge.
Neymar has had a very good debut season in the French league, bagging 19 goals and 13 assists for the Ligue 1 giants. In the Champions League, the Brazilian has 6 goals and 3 assists to his name. He has also put up some big-game performances, helping the Parisians to defeat Bayern Munich 3-0 at the Parc Des Princes early this season.
Salah has, however, beaten him with his dominant displays this term. The Egyptian has scored more goals than the PSG star in both the domestic and the UEFA Champions League. The Liverpool talisman has bagged 32 goals and 10 assists in the Premier League this season, while in the Champions League, he has 10 goals and 4 assists to his name.
He scored 2 goals against his former side (Roma) to send The Reds to the Champions League final.
#4 The UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League is Europe's most coveted trophy. It is the biggest stage in European football, which has served as a platform for the most impressive players on the continent to prove their worths.
Mohamed Salah has proved that he is one of the biggest players on the European soil with his dominant efforts this season. In fact, the attacker surpassed his Brazillian counterpart in the competition during this campaign.
The Egyptian successfully led his club to the final of the European tournament, recording 10 goals and 4 assists to his name. He has also put up some dominant displays as The Reds edged past the likes of Roma, Manchester City and Porto on their way to the final.
Neymar, on the other hand, could do very little as he watched his club crashed out of the tournament in the Round of 16. The Brazilian could only settle for just 6 goals and 3 assists in the competition this term.
#3 Expectations
To whom much is given, much is expected. Neymar's world record move to Paris Saint Germain in the summer came with a lot of expectations. Afterall, no club would want to splash that huge fee on a player and not expect him to justify his worth.
If you take a clinical look at the Brazilian this season, however, you will realize that he has fallen below his expectations. He might have helped the French club to reclaim the Ligue 1 title, but his major task was to lead them to Champions League triumph, which he clearly failed to do. Moreover, he was also expected to overtake both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the Ballon d'Or race, but he doesn't look like he is even next to them yet.
When Liverpool signed Salah in the summer, the club couldn't have imagined what fortune the winger would bring to the club. At his signing, there were very little expectations before him, but he has surpassed all and has reached the highest level of performance in the world.
The top scorer in the Premier League and the PFA Player Of The Year - these are things that the Liverpool owners couldn't have imagined he would achieve when they paid his price in the summer.
He might not have won a trophy yet, but his impact on the Merseyside club this year is quite unimaginable. He has kept the club in the top-4, as well as putting them on course for a sixth Champions League triumph.
#2 Cost of the transfers
As stated earlier, both Salah and Neymar are great superstars and both have been at incredible levels this season. They were both signed in the summer and have both been vital to their respective clubs.
Though, if you consider the prices that took these players from their various clubs, there can only be one winner, and that is Mohamed Salah.
The Egyptian was bought for a very cheap price of £34.3 million. Ever since his arrival, he has been going from strength to strength and breaking records upon records in the Premier League.
Neymar, who cost £222 million, has lower statistics, compared to his Egyptian rival. The Brazilian scored 19 times and assisted a further 13 in the French league this season. In the Champions League, he has 6 goals and 3 assists to his name.
Imagine this: a commodity that was bought at a cheap price of £34.3 million was able to produce 42 goals in all competitions, while another one that cost £222 million racked up 26 goals in all competitions as well. Which one has been more impressive?
Surely, the earlier is the better!
#1 Availability, impact and other Factors
Mohamed Salah is one of the most consistent performers in Europe this season. The PFA Player Of The Year Award winner has been at an incredible level since the beginning of the term, tearing opposition defenses apart, creating beautiful chances and scoring amazing goals.
The Egyptian has proved that he is the better signing from various points this season. For example, the attacker has stepped up every time that Liverpool needed him. He has been their goalscorer as well as their creative box, charging the club on their way to claim European glory.
Neymar, on the other hand, was missing when the club needed him most. The Brazilian suffered a fatal injury in the vital moments and was forced to watch as his club was eliminated from the Champions League. He also missed some league action, allowing Argentine winger, Angel Di Maria to take his place in the starting line-up.
It is true that there can only be one winner, Mohamed Salah is definitely the one!
