Chelsea clinch Salah deal

Jose Mourinho continued his overhaul of his Chelsea squad yesterday, signing Mohamed Salah from Basle having hijacked Liverpool’s bid for the player.

Liverpool had hoped to sign the 21-year-old, but yesterday conceded defeat to Chelsea in their pursuit of the winger.

Salah’s capture is reminiscent of the deal for Willian, who had already completed a medical at Tottenham before signing for Chelsea last August.

A statement on Chelsea’s website read: “Chelsea Football Club can confirm an agreement has been reached with FC Basle for the transfer of their 21-year-old attacking midfielder Mohamed Salah.

“The move is subject to the Egyptian international agreeing personal terms and completing a medical examination.”

Provided the finer details of the move are confirmed swiftly, Salah could make his debut in Sunday’s FA Cup fourth round tie at home to Stoke.

He wrote on Twitter: “Mohamed Salah Officially in @chelseafc”

Salah becomes Chelsea’s third signing of the winter transfer window, following Bertrand Traore and Nemanja Matic in moves funded by the sale of Kevin De Bruyne and the imminent departure to Manchester United of Juan Mata, a fans’ favourite and Chelsea’s player of the year in each of the last two seasons.

So impressed was Mourinho in Salah’s performance as Chelsea twice lost to Basle in the Champions League group stages that the Blues boss made his move.

Salah scored in three of the Swiss side’s four recent meetings with Chelsea: a goal in each of this season’s Group E Champions League wins and also netting in the second leg of last term’s Europa League semi-final.

Salah is another option in the attacking midfield roles, but the pace and width he offers suggests Mourinho seems him as an alternative to Mata, rather than a direct replacement.

Another player who appears set to join Mata in departing Stamford Bridge is midfielder Michael Essien, with a switch to Milan possible.

The Ghana midfielder on Twitter re-tweeted a fan’s comment which stated: “If Essien goes to Milan. I will weep tears of sadness for Chelsea and joy for him.”