Although Liverpool fared well in keeping Mohamed Salah, they are still preparing for the possibility that he leaves the team the following summer.
Prior to the summer transfer market closing, Al-Ittihad reportedly made a proposal of £150 million for the Egypt international, but the Reds quickly turned down the offer.
The Saudi club was reportedly willing to pay up to £215 million for the Liverpool superstar at the time, according to reports, but the deal ultimately fell through.
Although Jurgen Klopp dismissed the rumors at the time with a short chuckle, Liverpool is fully aware that Saudi Arabia is still interested in the club. Due to this, the club is presently evaluating potential alternatives for Salah’s replacement in the years leading up to 2024. The Reds pursued Juventus winger Federico Chiesa all summer, and they may try to re-engage in negotiations for him in 2024.
If Salah should really depart, Liverpool sees Chiesa as a “solid option” to take Salah’s place, according to reports in Spain.
The Italian winger, 25, has been linked to several top teams around Europe during the previous transfer window, but he ultimately stayed put.
Chiesa has undoubtedly experienced a fair share of injury issues since joining the Italian powerhouses, but he would still be a desirable choice for a team like Liverpool.
His Italian contract is slated to expire in 2025, therefore Liverpool might be able to negotiate a lower price. Juventus reportedly paid €50 million for the winger in 2020, but since then, his worth has declined.
Liverpool is looking at alternative options
Liverpool is keeping an eye on a few more players from throughout Europe in addition to Chiesa. It appears that the Reds will employ this strategy to discover Salah’s replacement because they have had success in the past using the European market.
Rafael Leao, a winger for AC Milan, has drawn interest from Liverpool and Real Madrid, according to reports from earlier this month.
Leao would be a bold acquisition for Liverpool and would probably cost a lot more than Chiesa. The 24-year-old has a contract with Milan that runs through 2028, and they reportedly value him at almost £130 million.
Rodrygo, a winger for Real Madrid, is reportedly Liverpool’s third choice at the moment. Due to the Brazilian’s excellent reputation in Spain, this transaction would be equally challenging to complete.
Rodrygo has started each of Real Madrid’s opening five league games this year, and his deal with the team runs through the summer of 2028.
In the coming months, Liverpool will carefully weigh these three possibilities as Klopp gets ready for the possibility of living without Salah.
