Liverpool

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Mo Salah replacement: Seven top-class attackers Liverpool could sign as contract D-Day looms

Mo Salah, Bryan Mbeumo and Antoine Semenyo

Who could fill the void Mo Salah would leave at Liverpool?

Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah is continually being linked with a move away from Anfield in 2025, so TEAMtalk has taken a look at seven potential replacements for the Reds legend.

Salah has scored over 200 goals in all competitions for Liverpool and is their all-time top goalscorer in the Premier League.

While the records continue to tumble for the Anfield legend, he now has under six months left on his contract at Anfield and will be eligible to sign a pre-contract agreement with an overseas suitor of his choice from January 1.

With his current £350,000 per week arrangement set to expire on June 30, talks over an extension are expected to step up in the coming weeks but Salah has remained coy when speaking to the media about his future and has insisted he is in his “last year” at Liverpool – as things stand.

Worryingly for Liverpool, clubs in the Saudi Pro League continue to lurk when it comes to one of the Premier League’s top performers of the last seven years.

And that lure leads TEAMtalk to look at seven players who could replace the great man on Merseyside…

Jarrod Bowen

Bowen has been linked with a switch to Liverpool on multiple occasions as he continues to show up as West Ham’s main attacking threat.

The England international scored 20 goals and provided 10 assists in 44 games in all competitions for the Hammers last season and has started the new campaign in fine form too.

He’s previously been referred to as the “claret and blue Salah,” which suggests there is no better man to replace the Egpyt international with than Bowen.

The former Hull City man was certainly a favourite of former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, who stated before West Ham played the Reds last season that the attacker was his “favourite player” outside of his own team.

However, it’s previously been suggested that Liverpool will need to offer West Ham somewhere in the region of £80-100million in order to sign Bowen. That is because the Irons have managed to tie him down to a long-term deal, which runs until June 2030.

Bryan Mbeumo

TEAMtalk revealed in November that Liverpool are among several Premier League clubs making regular checks on Mbeumo, who would be very keen to play under Arne Slot.

The 25-year-old started the season in red-hot form for Brentford with eight goals in the opening 11 Premier League games, including spectacular efforts against Tottenham and West Ham.

He was Brentford’s second top scorer last season after netting 10 goals in all competitions, despite missing almost four months of the campaign with an ankle injury.

The Cameroon international can play anywhere across the forward line and now looks ready to take that next big step in his career.

“He’s added another layer this year,” Thomas Frank admitted. “For me, he’s a top player. I’m convinced one day he will play for a bigger club; I will definitely buy him if I was at a bigger club.”

The Reds enjoy a good working relationship with their Brentford counterparts having sold Fabio Carvalho and Sepp van den Berg to the Bees over the summer transfer window.

Rodrygo

Despite some reports to the contrary, Real Madrid are reportedly warming to the idea of Rodrygo leaving amid ongoing claims Liverpool are interested in the Brazil ace.

Rodrygo officially joined Madrid in July 2019 when the La Liga giants paid Santos £37.6million for him. The deal had been agreed a year earlier, when the winger was just 17 years old.

The 24-year-old has managed more than 100 goal contributions across all competitions for Madrid, helping them win three La Liga titles, two Champions Leagues and a Copa del Rey.

But Rodrygo has called for more recognition as the likes of Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe steal the spotlight at the Bernabeu.

Liverpool could try and take advantage of the situation, although Madrid will reportedly demand a fee in the region of £83.6million.

He predominantly lines up on the right wing, so is a like-for-like swap for Salah, but can can also play on the left or through the middle.

Leroy Sane

Sane has entered the final year of his contract at Bayern Munich and can strike a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs from January.

The former Manchester City attacker is reportedly unhappy with the new offer on the table from Bayern Munich, who want him to take a pay cut.

In three full seasons at City, the Germany international scored 39 goals and provided 43 assists in 135 appearances in all competitions.

While he mostly played out left for City, Sane has occupied the right-wing spot often for Bayern and has scored more than 50 goals and made more than 50 assists for the Bundesliga giants.

“There are wingers out there with the pace and goalscoring ability that you could replace Mohamed Salah with,” former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant said.

“I’d love to see Leroy Sane come in from Bayern Munich, after seeing what he did to Arsenal in the Champions League [in April].”

“I haven’t seen many players do that to Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, and he does it every week in Germany. He knows the Premier League from his time at Manchester City, so for me he would be a great replacement for Salah if he leaves Liverpool.”

Liverpool might not have it all their own way if they do decide to pursue the 29-year-old, with Arsenal and Newcastle also named as potential suitors.

 

Antoine Semenyo

Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes previously signed Semenyo for Bournemouth in January 2023 and could now bring him to Anfield.

The 25-year-old made a strong start to the 2024/25 season, including a strike in their 2-1 win over Manchester City.

“He’s a lovely footballer to watch,” former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp said.

“The manager’s taken him to another level, he obviously has that capability because you saw it with [Dominic] Solanke. I’m just seeing him elevate his game right now, we’ll talk about why does that happen, a lot of it is purely on confidence.

“He looks like he’s enjoying his football, his shoulders are back, he’s relaxed, every time he gets it, he plays with a bit of a swagger. He’s actually a joy to watch right now.”

Liverpool have reportedly been scouting the winger, who has also been linked with Newcastle United and Tottenham.

Raphinha

Having carried Leeds on his back in the 2021/22 season with 11 goals and three assists in the Premier League, the Brazilian has continued to star for Barcelona, where he has been directly involved in more goals than the number of games he has played this season and become a member of the captaincy group.

Both Tottenham and Manchester United have been linked with Raphinha in the past, while it’s emerged that he turned down the chance to join Chelsea and two Saudi Pro League clubs over the summer.

Liverpool also remain the mix though for a player who, like Salah, is a left-footed right-winger who loves to cut inside and do damage with his stronger foot.

That means the Reds would not have to change their tactics all too much if he was to join.

Trying to get Raphinha away from Barcelona will prove hugely tricky though after he displayed his loyalty over the summer when the Catalan giants could easily have cashed in due to their ongoing financial issues.

That being said, a substantial offer from the Reds could still end up with a positive outcome on Merseyside.

Johan Bakayoko

Bakayoko was strongly linked with a move away from the PSV over the summer, with even the club’s own sporting director claiming “I don’t think Bakayoko will play at PSV next season.”

Liverpool and Manchester City were both linked with the 21-year-old at that time, with Bakayoko deemed one of the more affordable options to replace Salah. Indeed, it’s believed that his base value is currently around £42million.

The Belgium international registered 14 goals and 14 assists for PSV last season before representing his country at Euro 2024.

Bakayoko has also started the new campaign well, scoring his 10th goal of the season in February, although, at this stage, he is more of an outsider than some of the other names mentioned.

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Liverpool Mohamed Salah Jarrod Bowen Bryan Mbeumo

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