Liverpool have been urged to make a move for Mohammed Kudus of West Ham United or Wolves winger Pedro Neto as they start to plan for life after Mohamed Salah.
Although having pledged his future to the Reds for next season, Salah is entering the final 12 months of his current contract and as things stand will be able to walk away from the club for nothing at the end of the campaign.
Liverpool turned down a £150million bid for the Egyptian from Al-Ittihad last September, with the Saudi Pro League continuing to show a strong interest in the player, who turns 32 on Saturday.
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Salah is one of three senior Liverpool players out of contract next summer with the new-look Liverpool hierarchy poised to sit down with his representatives along with those of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk.
The Reds are in any case pursuing a new wide forward in the transfer market, particularly with doubts also over the future of Luis Diaz amid interest from Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona.
And former Liverpool captain Paul Ince had indicated who he believes the Reds’ recruitment team should be considering as a long-term replacement for Salah.
“I think two players could replace Mohamed Salah at Liverpool,” he said. “With Michael Olise, he’s a very good kid, he could turn out to be a world-class player but I think he needs another year at (Crystal) Palace to play regular football week in and week out.
“The two players I would pick when they are on their game are Mohammed Kudus at West Ham, I think he’s very, very good, and my favourite is Pedro Neto at Wolves. If he can just stay away from injuries, I think this player is going to be world class. I really, really do.
“So I hope he gets a lot of time in Portugal in the Euros because he is unbelievable. If Salah does go, I’ll be going for Neto. I know the Wolves won’t like me to hear me say that being an ex-Wolves player, but those are the two that I’d be looking at.”
Speaking to bet365, Ince regards the lure of Saudi Arabia as strong, particularly with the likes of Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne openly contemplating moving to the lucrative league.
“He’s so important to Liverpool Football Club and has been for so many years,” he said of Salah. “But when Kevin De Bruyne talks about potentially going to Saudi, other players are thinking exactly the same thing. I wouldn’t be surprised if Salah did go to Saudi, but I hope he stays because he’s such a special player and because the manager wants him.
“I remember when I went to manage Blackburn in the Premier League, after about a week I’d lost Brad Friedel the goalkeeper and David Bentley went to Tottenham, two of my best players.
“So as a manager like someone like Arne Slot you don’t want to lose Salah straight away. So I’m sure we’ll be having that conversation. I think if he does go then you’re going to get a lot of money from him and you might bring in two or three good players who can complement everything that Salah does.”