Liverpool in daily talks to sign Salah’s successor for £88m

There is still debate as to why this happened, but the truth is that Mohamed Salah may be nearing the end of his glorious spell at Liverpool.

It was just over six months ago that the Egyptian was sitting atop the throne at Anfield as he became Premier League champion for the second time, having just signed a lavish new contract to end months of speculation.

The former Chelsea winger, who became a mainstay under Jurgen Klopp, appeared to have reached an even higher level following the arrival of Arne Slott, finishing the 2024/25 season with an incredible 57 goals and assists in all competitions.

But like all good things, the end is now in sight, and the 33-year-old’s participation in AFCON, alongside the impending January deadline, has sparked suggestions that he could already make his last appearance in red.

This is an inappropriate way to bow, but even the brightest and best players rarely receive the farewell or finale they deserve. Even the great Steven Gerrard had to leave the nest in MLS to see his playing days.

Regardless of whether his departure happens in January or over the summer, Salah appears to no longer have a long-term future. Now it’s about finding a suitable replacement…

Latest updates on Liverpool’s search for Salah’s successor

Rumors are already flying about Salah’s next possible move, with reports last week suggesting Turkish giants Galatasaray were one of the clubs to make an offer for the aging sensation.

It is unlikely that the Reds will receive anything close to the £200m bid reportedly submitted by Saudi Arabia two years ago, but there will certainly be a desire to cash in as much of that money as possible to reinvest it into player changes.

It continues to be claimed that Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenho has been named as one of the leading options to fill the void, but TEAMtalk reports that FSG could also look to the Bundesliga to find Anfield’s next star.

In fact, reports suggest that the Merseysiders have accelerated their interest in RB Leipzig teenager Yann Diomande and have begun talks with the 19-year-old’s agent.

No bids have yet been made for the £88m-valued wideman, but the article notes that Liverpool are in near “daily contact” with his agent ahead of a possible summer move.

However, a move in January cannot be completely ruled out for the high-profile star, who is attracting interest from across Europe, although it remains to be seen whether the reigning Premier League champions will solidify their interest with a winter offer.

Comparison of Diomande and Semenyo & Salah

As mentioned above, the likely target to replace Salah is of course the aforementioned Semenyo, with the Ghanaian available for £65m due to a release clause in his contract with the Cherries.

It remains to be seen whether he will replace the 25-year-old or be a potential teammate, but Diomande is an equally exciting talent and could reinvigorate the slot front.

Semenyo has been one of the Premier League’s leading figures with nine goals and an assist so far this season, while Diomande has had a breakout year in the Bundesliga, contributing eight goals himself for Leipzig.

That performance, which included an incredible hat-trick against Eintracht Frankfurt at the weekend, confirmed why the promising Ivorian is attracting so much attention.

Comparisons with Semenyo, who is fleet-footed and has blistering speed, are also interesting, with The Athletic’s Seb Stafford-Bloor pointing out that Diomando is “physically similar” to the Bournemouth star, but “they have exactly the same skills and touch”.

Writing in X in November, the respected Bundesliga insider hinted that the teenager was “not yet ready” for a move to the Premier League, but Liverpool would be wise to get ahead in the race to sign him, even if it means waiting until next summer.

That being said, if a deal is done, there’s no reason he can’t join in January and start working in earnest. The young player is currently on par with other wingers in Europe’s top five leagues.

According to FBref, he ranks in the top 1% in take-on completion percentage per 90, while also ranking in the top 2% in progressive carries per 90, highlighting what an elite dribbler and ball carrier he is.

Semenyo’s own quality in that regard was evident on the opening day as he ran unopposed through Anfield and calmly scored the goal that slotted his side to a 4-2 victory.

The prospect of potentially adding both the former Bristol City man and Diomande to the squad in 2026 would be a really exciting one. Two Semenyo-like players are probably what the side needs to upgrade.