Heir to Mo Salah: Saka would be Liverpool gamechanger

Liverpool Football Club and its fans are worried about the future of Mohamed Salah.

The Egyptian was the subject of a bid of around £150 million from Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ittihad the day before transfer Deadline Day.

This was, of course, quickly rejected by both club and player with fans online relieved that this summer's solid transfer business would not be undone at the 11th hour.

Salah is one of the most talented players in Liverpool's illustrious history. To date, he has 188 goals and 81 assists in 309 appearances for the mighty Reds, as per Transfermarkt.

He may be 31 but there are very few forwards as fit or influential in the world. Replacing him with a like for like attacker would be difficult with a year to do so much less a few hours.

Yet, the verbal offer Liverpool received, which Sky Sports reports was worth £150 million, has prompted fans and pundits alike to speculate on his eventual exit from the club.

Mo Salah's future at Liverpool

The good news is that Salah is still under contract until the end of the 2024/25 season.

With two years remaining on his contract, Liverpool have the following options:

• Release him for free in 2025
• Sell him next summer
• Offer to renew his contract again

It seems unlikely FSG would renew his contract again after the long and tenuous negotiations that saw him finally sign an extension in July 2022.

The Athletic reported that his wages jumped from £200,000 per week to £350,000 per week. Given he has scored more goals (139) than any other since his return to the Premier League, most agreed this was appropriate.

That really only leaves a choice between selling him next summer while his value is still astronomical or holding onto him until 2025 at which point he will be 33.

If Liverpool sell him, they would need to find a talismanic player capable of matching his numbers.

This is an incredibly ask as there are only a few players capable of doing so and two of them are Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland.

Another two are entirely different options.

Who should Liverpool sign to replace Salah if he leaves?

Kvicha Kvaratshkelia

One is Napoli's Kvicha Kvaratshkelia. While he plays on the left-wing, he has the same talismanic quality Salah does.

The Georgian is one of the most exciting players to have emerged in Europe recently.

Since joining Napoli from Dinamo Batumi for a fee reported to be worth €10–12 million (£8.5m-10.2M), the forward has exploded into life.

Last season, he helped inspire Luciano Spalletti's side to the Scudetto, scoring 14 goals and assisting 17.

A world-class dribbler, goal threat and playmaker, he fits the bill to replace Salah. The Egyptian is a double-threat just like Kvaratshkelia but Liverpool would likely want to track his development further before making a move.

In a statement the London Evening Standard has described as "astonishing", Napoli have rubbished rumours that Kvaratskhelia's contract has been extended.

They statement reads: “Some media keep reporting about Kvaratskhelia’s new deal. These are bullshit.

“No one from our club ever discussed new deal with Kvara, current contract expires in four years. There are no talks at all."

Bukayo Saka

The ideal choice is Bukayo Saka.

He's the only right-wing that matches Salah stylistically and although he is yet to match the numbers of the Liverpool forward, he seems on track to.

Last season, the English forward almost won his first Premier League title before Arsenal fell short.

His 14 goals and 11 assists brought the Gunners to the cusp of a first title in almost 20 years before they faced a fate Liverpool have grown all too familiar with as Manchester City pipped them to the trophy.

Transferkmarkt values Saka at €120 million (£102.6m) - the fourth highest valuation of any player in the world and the second-highest in the Premier League.

Only Erling Haaland (€180m), Kylian Mbappe (€180m), Vinicius Junior (€150m) are more valuable. Jude Bellingham (€120m) has the same market value as Saka.

If Liverpool were to sell Salah next summer, spending the fee recouped on Saka would be a fantastic way to ensure his departure doesn't cripple Jurgen Klopp's side.

That said, it seems unlikely Arsenal would be willing to part ways with him.