Liverpool eyeing a new winger despite plans to retain Mohamed Salah
According to journalist Ben Jacobs, Liverpool are prioritising the wide forward position during the upcoming summer transfer window amid Mohamed Salah exit links.
Since Jurgen Klopp left the club at the end of last season, there has been a lot of speculation surrounding Mohamed Salah’s future. Since arriving from AS Roma in 2017, the Egyptian forward has been one of the best players in the Premier League.
The 31-year-old has scored 211 goals and supplied 89 assists in 349 appearances in a hugely successful spell at Anfield. He has been among the most well-rounded forwards across Europe in recent years due to his sheer ability to score goals as well as churn assists consistently for Liverpool and the Egypt national team.
However, Mohamed Salah is among the three stars who are on expiring deals at Liverpool at the end of next season.
He was the subject of a mammoth £150m bid from Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad last summer but Liverpool rejected it on transfer deadline day. There is still interest from Saudi Arabia and the Merseyside giants could be tempted to cash in on their star attacker with just a year left on his contract.
Although Salah is entering the final year of his contract, Ben Jacobs feels the Egypt international is edging towards staying at the club but new manager Arne Slot still wants to sign a fresh wide-man before the 2024/25 campaign commences.
“Well, I think what we know about Liverpool is that they’re looking for a wide forward, and part of that is succession planning for Mo Salah’s eventual departure, although there’s no urgency at Liverpool’s end,” Jacobs told GIVEMESPORT in an interview.
“What they do very well is they often try and buy before the player passes their peak and/or leaves.
“That’s just good recruitment and strong succession planning.”
PSV Eindhoven winger Johan Bakayoko, rated as one of the best talents around in his position, has been on Liverpool’s radar ahead of the summer transfer window. Another winger drawing interest from the Reds is Leeds United star Crysencio Summerville, who had a spectacular 2023/24 season in the Championship.
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Despite turning 31, Salah remains one of the most decisive footballers in the world. He can score goals or create chances out of nowhere and singlehandedly win games for his team. Thus, it will be extremely tough to replace the Egypt international, who has won five major trophies at Anfield thus far.
That said, it would be great if we could identify and sign Salah’s long-term successor this summer itself.
