The Hard Tackle speculates three ideal destinations for Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, who could be on his way out of Anfield in the summer.
Liverpool’s ongoing form in the Premier League has left them stranded outside the top six in the current Premier League, but it has also put the future of their star players under the microscope.
As such, a recent report from Eurosport suggests that Mohamed Salah could become the very first superstar to leave Anfield in the summer. The winger is reportedly having double thoughts over his desire to extend his current contract in the Merseyside that expires in the summer of 2023.
Instead, the Egyptian international is open to a new challenge next season, which is guaranteed to put a host of top European clubs on red alert.
Salah has been Liverpool’s top scorer this season with 17 strikes in 27 league matches. It is quite a phenomenal record, if we put aside Liverpool’s performances as a team, especially since the turn of the year.
Therefore, the winger is almost destined to fetch a lot of attention, should he leave Anfield. And here, at The Hard Tackle, we will explore three potential destinations for the Liverpool star this summer, as he looks to take the next step in his career.
Real Madrid
Real Madrid are definitely one of the top three destinations for Mohamed Salah for a multitude of reasons, as they have been linked with a move for him in the past. Zinedine Zidane is already preparing for a potential squad overhaul in the upcoming summer, as the Frenchman looks to bin ageing, unwanted stars like Gareth Bale and Isco while Karim Benzema is nearing the final phase of his career.
In addition, Eden Hazard has had his problems with injuries since arriving at the Bernabeu, thus accentuating the need for another star forward who can lift the scoring burden off Benzema next season. That is where the potential addition of Salah could make perfect sense.
As indicated by his scoring tally in the ongoing campaign, as well as his record since joining Liverpool, the former Chelsea star certainly packs a punch when it comes to productivity. Having played under Jurgen Klopp for a few years, Salah is also adept in the counter-attacking style of play that tunes in well with Zidane’s tactical philosophy.
And with the winger having the tendency to shift into a central role could bode well for the likes of Benzema and Hazard as the three can be deployed in a free-flowing attacking formation. It should resemble the famed BBC trio during Real Madrid’s heights a few years ago.
However, a lot could depend on how much Liverpool demand for their star players as Los Blancos cannot afford to invest much in the current financial climate. And at the age of 28, the club might want to shift their attention elsewhere, should the player cost a fortune.
Paris Saint-Germain
Paris Saint-Germain could be a viable destination for Mohamed Salah if he wants to take the next step in his career. The Ligue 1 giants might be open to signing new attackers following the struggles of Pablo Sarabia and Julian Draxler, whose contract at the French capital expires at the end of the season.
In addition, Neymar has had issues with injuries while most importantly, Kylian Mbappe is being heavily linked with a move away from Parc des Princes. In fact, the Eurosport report claims that the Frenchman has identified Liverpool as his preferred destination in the summer.
It could further entice this transfer saga and it will be interesting to see whether the two clubs can work out a sensational swap deal. Nevertheless, from a sporting perspective, Salah would slot in nicely alongside Neymar and Mauro Icardi – forming the core of Mauricio Pochettino’s potentially new-look PSG attack.
The Egyptian’s experience with efficient, high-octane football should tune in well with the club’s style of play while his experience at the highest level football can only help Les Parisien mount a more formidable bid for the Champions League title next season.
Juventus
It is always going to be a difficult decision between Barcelona and Juventus, but we give the edge to the Italian champions due to Barca’s poor economic condition and the ensuing transfer policy that is solely focusing on signing free agents and developing their existing next-gen stars like Pedri and Ilaix Moriba.
As for Juve, they need a squad overhaul in the summer following a disappointing debut campaign under the leadership of Andrea Pirlo. The Old Lady are currently trailing league leaders Inter Milan by seven points, with very little chances of defending their Serie A crown.
The team has continued to appear overly reliant on the services of Cristiano Ronaldo in terms of productivity while stars like Paulo Dybala and Alvaro Morata are not enjoying the best of times.
The Bianconeri, therefore, could fancy bringing in new faces, with Salah, in particular, likely to improve their productivity. He could join forces with Ronaldo to create a formidable attacking duo, although Juventus may need to make some tactical changes in order to get the best out of their attacking players.
A lot could depend on whether the club persists with Pirlo as their head coach, but in Salah, they will find themselves a proven marksman, who can not only provide the experience but also the quality to help the club restore their strength at the pinnacle of European football next season.