The Hard Tackle lists three players Liverpool should pursue to replace Mohamed Salah if he departs from Anfield next summer.
Mohamed Salah was reportedly a target for Saudi Arabian clubs before he committed his future to them. However, speculations surrounding his future refuse to die down. The Egyptian will enter the final year of his contract next summer and Saudi Arabian clubs are expected to return for him.
Liverpool will be in a vulnerable position next summer, and they could look to cash in on the player if he does not sign an extension with them. They will not want to lose Salah as a free agent in 2025.
Salah has been an exceptional servant for Liverpool since joining the club from AS Roma in 2017, and he has helped them win every single trophy at club level. Replacing the Egyptian will be a daunting task for the Premier League giants and here at The Hard Tackle we look at three potential alternatives.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
The 22-year-old Napoli winger is certainly one of the most talented young players in European football right now. The Georgian international has been outstanding for Napoli since joining them, and his performances in Serie A and the UEFA Champions League show that he is certainly good enough to play for the elite clubs.
Kvaratskhelia helped Napoli win the league title last season, and he might feel that this is the right time for him to take the next step in his career. The Georgian international chipped in with 14 goals and 17 assists across all competitions last term, and he has started the current season in fine form as well.
It is evident that he is capable of replicating Salah’s output from the wide areas. Although he is primarily a left-sided winger, Liverpool could certainly accommodate him in their attack. Colombian international Luis Diaz has played on the right side of a front three previously, and Jurgen Klopp could interchange the two players from time to time.
The opportunity to play for a club like Liverpool could be an attractive option for the 22-year-old, and working under a world-class coach like Klopp will help him develop further and fulfil his world-class potential. However, he is likely to cost a premium, and Liverpool would have to return to the UEFA Champions League in order to attract elite talents like him.
Johan Bakayoko
The 20-year-old PSV Eindhoven winger has attracted the attention of the top European clubs with his explosive performances in the Eredivisie. The versatile attacker is capable of operating on both flanks, and he will add pace and creativity to the Liverpool attack if he joins the club.
Liverpool have signed Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven recently, and they will hope that the relationship between the two clubs could help them sign the 20-year-old as well. Bakayoko is widely regarded as one of the brightest young talents in European football, and he could develop into a world-class player with the coaching and guidance of Jurgen Klopp.
The winger has three goals and eight assists to his name across all competitions this season and he has already established himself as a key player for the PSV first team. There is no doubt that the Belgian needs more experience and development in order to eventually replace an elite player like Salah.
But he has the attributes to develop into a world-class player in the near future. In addition to that, the winger has a contract with PSV until the summer of 2026, and he could be available for a reasonable price as well.
Jarrod Bowen
The West Ham United winger has often been linked with a move to Liverpool in recent months. The 26-year-old has proven himself to be a reliable performer in the Premier League, and he plays a similar role to that of Salah.
However, the England international has a contract with the London club until the summer of 2030, and he is likely to cost a premium if Liverpool come calling. In addition, Arsenal are also keen on securing Bowen’s services.
Bowen has six goals and an assist in 10 Premier League matches this season, and he has impressed with his creativity, goal-scoring ability and industrious style of play over the years. He was outstanding for the London club last season, and he scored 13 goals and picked up eight assists across all competitions. He was also instrumental in their UEFA Europa Conference league win.
The opportunity to make the step up in his career could be hard to turn down and a transfer to Liverpool would allow him to compete for major trophies on a consistent basis. The English winger is entering the peak years of his career and joining a big club could prove to be an attractive proposition for him.
Bringing in a like-for-like replacement for Mohamed Salah will be an uphill challenge for Liverpool in the near future and the likes of Bowen, Bakayoko and Kvaratskhelia might not be able to have the same impact either. Klopp might need to make tactical adjustments so that Liverpool can cope in his absence as a team. However, all three players have the attributes to improve Liverpool and they would be exciting additions.
