In a surprising revelation, former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp reportedly discussed the idea of signing Manchester United flop Antony as a potential replacement for star forward Mohamed Salah back in 2022.

According to The Times, Klopp saw the Brazilian winger, then playing for Ajax, as an ideal candidate to fill Salah’s shoes at Anfield.

At the time, Antony was enjoying an impressive season in the Eredivisie, scoring 12 goals and providing 10 assists.

However, Liverpool’s owners, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), ultimately decided to ignore Klopp’s recommendation and instead convinced Salah to sign a new £350,000-per-week contract, keeping the Egyptian at the club.

This decision has proven to be a wise one, as Salah has since gone on to score 65 goals over the past few campaigns, cementing his status as one of the Premier League’s elite players.

In contrast, Antony’s move to Manchester United for a hefty £86 million fee in the summer of 2023 has been widely regarded as one of the Red Devils’ biggest flops in recent memory.

The 22-year-old has managed just 12 goals so far and has already been linked with a potential exit from Old Trafford.

Liverpool’s current manager, Arne Slot, recently praised Salah’s consistency and goal-scoring prowess, highlighting the “special” quality the Egyptian possesses to maintain such high levels of performance year after year.

While Antony is unlikely to make the move to Anfield anytime soon, the Reds still face the task of securing Salah’s long-term future, with the player’s current contract set to expire in less than a year.

However, the club’s decision to retain their star man, rather than pursue Klopp’s Antony proposal, has undoubtedly paid dividends.