Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah has reportedly emerged as the desired alternative to Erling Haaland for Barcelona.
According to a report by Catalan outlet El Nacional, Barcelona could be laying down a contingency plan if they fail to sign Erling Haaland in the summer transfer window. The Catalan giants have identified Liverpool attacker Mohamed Salah as the alternative to the Borussia Dortmund striker.
Mohamed Salah has established himself as one of the finest attacking players in the game since joining Liverpool from AS Roma in July 2017. In the last four and a half years, the Egyptian forward has gone from being a talented winger whose output left a lot to be desired to a talisman who scores goals for fun.
The 29-year-old has enjoyed a great 2021/22 season thus far, amassing 23 goals and nine assists in 26 appearances across all competitions. But Salah’s long-term future is a source of concern for Liverpool as he has entered the final 18 months of his contract, with developments on the renewal front progressing slower than desired. This has not gone unnoticed, with Barcelona among his prospective suitors.
The interest from Barcelona comes in the wake of the uncertainties surrounding the long-term future of Ousmane Dembele. The Frenchman has interestingly been linked with Liverpool among a slew of other European bigwigs, and it looks like he could soon swap places with Salah.
If that were to be the case, Barcelona would be coming out the better served of the two clubs, with Dembele’s fitness woes well documented. On the other hand, Salah is one of the most prolific players in the game and could be an ideal short-term replacement for Lionel Messi, whose shock departure last summer has rocked Barcelona’s attacking department.
But Barcelona will not be the only big club in Europe vying for Salah’s signature if he were to leave Liverpool next summer, with Paris Saint-Germain also keen on signing him. The French giants are eyeing the Liverpool talisman as a replacement for Kylian Mbappe, who could join Real Madrid on a free transfer in the summer.
Liverpool will be scrambling to tie Salah down to a bumper new contract, although there appears to be a massive gap between the Egyptian forward’s demands and the terms that the Reds are willing to offer him. Salah could be on his way to Barcelona as an alternative to Erling Haaland if the impasse continues, even though he is not a like-for-like substitute.
