Vinicius Junior is one of the options on Liverpool’s shortlist of potential Mohamed Salah replacements, but it’s a highly tricky task.
The Athletic has jotted down a list of potential replacements Liverpool should consider if Mohamed Salah leaves, and Real Madrid mainstay Vinicius Junior is a part of it. The 23-year-old continues to grow at the Spanish capital, and prising him away will prove difficult for the Merseysiders.
It’s only been days since the Saudi window slammed shut, a sight at which Liverpool seemed like the happiest of all English clubs. Al Ittihad have pressured the Merseysiders to sell star man Mohamed Salah but failed with a mega offer worth £150 million. Reports suggested they could have gone well beyond the £200 million mark.
The Saudis could return with a fresh offer in January or next summer. By then, Liverpool could loosen their stance and prepare to sell their talismanic forward, especially for the money on offer. The Merseysiders will have a big task ahead of replacing the Egyptian, which could prove tricky.
There are few options for ideal replacements, but they must also consider replacing Salah’s underrated creative output. The Egyptian offers an assist every three games, making him a formidable all-round forward under Jurgen Klopp.
A host of options had been mentioned as part of the potential shortlist. Kylian Mbappe had links to Liverpool, while other names like Bukayo Saka, Jarrod Bowen, and Junior had mentions.
Many have recommended Saka as the ideal choice to replace Salah. There are complexities in persuading Arsenal to part ways with their homegrown star. Saka would also need big convincing to leave his boyhood club. By current standards, he has no reason to leave the Gunners, for their project is going on the way up.
Bowen remains a firm option for Liverpool, but the inclusion of Vinivious on the list makes the possibility intriguing. The 23-year-old, considered a Real Madrid mainstay, has no reason to leave Madrid unless the club considers a massive offer.
Rarely have Real Madrid parted ways with a player they consider very important, which might be the case in Vinicius’ case. He recently signed a new long-term contract with a release clause probably beyond Liverpool’s means.
As things stand, Liverpool might offer a similar amount to the potential Salah sale. In Florentino Perez’s eyes, that will not cut it out to sell someone like Vinicius. Moreover, his salary demands could even surpass what Salah currently earns.
Hence, even if the idea of Vinicius replacing Salah can become a fantasy for Liverpool, the move has complexities for the Merseysiders. Other options like Saka or Mbappe look dicey for the Reds, but they could consider Bowen a replacement for their talisman.
