With Mohamed Salah confirming his departure and Liverpool needing to sign at least two new wingers, who could the Reds sign to kickstart life after the No. 11?
Jurgen Klopp summed it up with his reaction to the news Salah will leave Liverpool at the end of the season after nine remarkable years.
As his long-time manager put it, the Egyptian will be “irreplaceable.” And that makes the task of identifying wingers for this summer’s transfer window all the more difficult.
Mohamed Salah Replacements: Transfer Shortlist
| Player | Age | Club | Best Position | Foot | Market Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yan Diomande | 19 | RB Leipzig | RW/LW | Right | €75m |
| Bradley Barcola | 23 | PSG | LW | Right | €70m |
| Yankuba Minteh | 21 | Brighton | RW | Left | €40m |
| Francisco Conceicao | 23 | Juventus | RW | Left | €30m |
| Morgan Rogers | 23 | Aston Villa | AM/LW | Right | €80m |
| Anthony Gordon | 25 | Newcastle | LW/RW | Right | €60m |
| Khvicha Kvaratskhelia | 25 | PSG | LW | Both | €90m |
| Karim Adeyemi | 24 | Dortmund | RW/ST | Left | €50m |
| Maghnes Akliouche | 24 | AS Monaco | RW | Left | €50m |
| Michael Olise | 24 | Bayern Munich | RW | Left | €140m |
But that presents an interesting conundrum for Liverpool’s recruitment team: do they follow last summer’s trend and push for the best of the best, or revert to their successful model of spotting lower-profile talents primed to explode?
Perhaps it should be a bit of both.
With at least two new wingers required – and not only for Salah’s right side, with Cody Gakpo struggling on the left too – here are 10 Liverpool could look to sign.
Yan Diomande (RB Leipzig)
Age: 19
Nationality: Ivory Coast
Position: RW, LW
Foot: Right
As it stands, the most likely candidate for Liverpool’s next signing on the right wing – if they can navigate a €100 million price tag.
Diomande has emerged as one of the standout attackers in Europe this season having only made the switch from Leganes to Leipzig last summer, with 11 goals and eight assists in 29 games for the Bundesliga club.
A line-breaking dribbler who is equally adept on the right and left flanks, he is still only 19 and fits the profile Liverpool need as a player for now and for the future.
Bradley Barcola (Paris Saint-Germain)
Age: 23
Nationality: France
Position: LW, RW
Foot: Right
Despite playing a key role for PSG, it is telling that Barcola was informally offered to Liverpool last summer and remains a possibility a year later.
If the Frenchman is available it would be a no-brainer in the current market: Barcola is still only 23, has already played over 200 senior games for club and country and is an experienced winner at the highest level.
Like Diomande he is comfortable on either wing, but is at his best on the left, which could make him a creative, dribble-happy replacement for Gakpo on that side.
Yankuba Minteh (Brighton)
Age: 21
Nationality: The Gambia
Position: RW, LW
Foot: Left
If Liverpool plan to bank on upside, rather than a player already established among the elite, Minteh resembles a talent who could be moulded into a top-level winger.
A relentless runner with explosive pace, the Gambia international ranks highly in terms of dribble success, touches in the opposition’s box, chance creation, expected assists and both tackles and interceptions.
Mainly playing on the right Minteh has only scored two goals and assisted four in 29 since his £30 million move to Brighton, but there is more than enough evidence to suggest that will be scaleable in the right environment.
Francisco Conceicao (Juventus)
Age: 23
Nationality: Portugal
Position: RW, AM
Foot: Left
A surprise candidate to emerge in the immediate aftermath of Salah’s announcement, Liverpool are tracking the progress of Conceicao at Juventus with a view to a potential move.
It is clear to see why: now in his second season in Turin, the Portugal international has cemented himself as one of the most-feared one-on-one dribblers in Europe and that is a rare quality among modern wingers.
With Juventus credited with an interest in the wantaway Federico Chiesa, perhaps a part-exchange deal could be on the cards?
Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)
Age: 23
Nationality: England
Position: AM, LW
Foot: Right
The first real curveball on our list. Rogers is not a typical winger, but there is a lot to like about a player who has 10 goals and seven assists this season and could be tempted to leave Villa Park in the summer.
A direct, powerful attacker who has been used more often as a No. 10 under Unai Emery, the England international does however possess the qualities required to suit Liverpool’s needs out wide.
In many ways he would serve as an upgrade on Gakpo and, crucially, would help address the shortage of homegrown players at Anfield.
Anthony Gordon (Newcastle)
Age: 25
Nationality: England
Position: LW, RW, ST
Foot: Right
It may be a controversial move for some, but Gordon making a homecoming of sorts would tick a lot of boxes for Liverpool.
Tactically versatile, Premier League proven, committed off the ball and clinical in the final third, the former Everton winger – who briefly spent time in the academy at Kirkby – could suit any role in the Reds’ forward line.
Liverpool are known to hold a long-term interest in a player who has the pace and adaptability to suit their attack – and with 17 goals in 45 games this season he looks capable of making the step up.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Paris Saint-Germain)
Age: 25
Nationality: Georgia
Position: LW, RW
Foot: Both
Liverpool weighed up a move for Kvaratskhelia just over a year ago, with the Georgian considered a market opportunity as he pushed to leave Napoli mid-season.
He ultimately joined PSG to leave supporters at Anfield kicking themselves, but reports now claim he is already open to a move away amid interest from Arsenal.
If that is the case, Liverpool should be all over it. Kvaratskhelia is a genuine world-class winger who could make the transition to life after Salah much less painful.
Karim Adeyemi (Dortmund)
Age: 24
Nationality: Germany
Position: ST, LW, RW
Foot: Left
Adeyemi is nearing the end of his fourth season at Dortmund and a player who was coveted by Liverpool while at Salzburg has proved reliable if unspectacular during that time.
Still, he is averaging around 15 goals contributions a season – a goal or assist every 132 minutes to be precise – and remains a regular for Germany as well as his club.
An option on the right, left and up front, Adeyemi’s standout quality is his sheer speed, and having only recently turned 24 there is plenty of scope for further development as part of the Liverpool squad.
Maghnes Akliouche (AS Monaco)
Age: 24
Nationality: France
Position: RW
Foot: Left
If Liverpool were to look for a different profile on the right wing moving forward, Hugo Ekitike‘s France team-mate Akliouche is a very interesting candidate.
More of a playmaker than a finisher, he excels linking up with sharp one-touch play and moving through tight defences to create chances for his team-mates or test the goalkeeper himself.
A rangy, technical winger who makes himself constantly available, Akliouche is still quick when required and is becoming a more consistent threat in the final third, which could make him appealing as part of the next generation at Anfield.
Michael Olise (Bayern Munich)
Age: 24
Nationality: France
Position: RW
Foot: Left
Liverpool’s interest in Olise is longstanding and there should be no surprise that he remains on their shortlist heading into the summer – the question is whether or not Bayern would countenance a sale.
The German champions insist that will not be the case, but that may well be posturing from a club which typically sanctions one or two big sales every summer.
Put simply, if Olise becomes available, he should be the No. 1 priority for Liverpool in replacing Salah – his 36 goals and 50 assists in 94 games since joining Bayern from Crystal Palace should serve as evidence enough.
Another who would boost Liverpool’s homegrown quota, which cannot be overlooked.