Liverpool supporters will be hoping they haven’t seen the last of Mohamed Salah, who left Saturday’s game against Crystal Palace with a hamstring injury.
The Reds legend was sent off in the 59th minute of the 3-1 Premier League win over the Eagles and it could be his last appearance for the club.
Salah announced during the March international break that he would leave Anfield at the end of the season to seek a new challenge, meaning the next four games will be his last chance to add to his historic tally.
The Egyptian international made his 440th appearance for the club on Saturday against Palace, but failed to add to his 257 goals and 122 assists in all competitions.
Hopefully, the injury is minor and the forward will be back on the pitch for a final farewell before the end of the Premier League season.
Liverpool identify top target to replace Mo Salah
Looking beyond the end of this season, the Reds must find a player to replace the attacking force provided by Salah on the right flank.
Losing him in the summer would be a huge blow to Arne Slott, as he has contributed 12 goals and nine assists this season and the team has reportedly identified a top target to replace him.
According to Football Insider, Liverpool have named RB Leipzig attacker Yann Diomande as their number one target to replace Salah in the upcoming summer transfer window.
The outlet reported that the Reds have been in contact with his agent and have gone so far as to make the first move towards signing the Ivorian wing wizard.
Football Insider claim that the club want to sign an “elite” attacker to strengthen their squad in the summer, and Diomande has been identified as a priority target in that area of the pitch.
He added that Liverpool hope their strong relationship with RB Leipzig, who have previously brought in Ibrahima Konate and Naby Keita from the German side, will help them seal a deal for the winger.
Why Yann Diomande is not Mohamed Salah’s successor
Diomande could arrive at Anfield this summer as a replacement for Salah on the right wing, but his style is similar to former Reds star Sadio Mane.
Salah is a left-footed winger who can cut in with his left foot to score and create goals, but he does not use dribbling or explosive movements as much as his former teammate.
Of the 193 goals the Egyptian has scored for Liverpool in the Premier League, only 24 came with his weaker right foot. Mane, on the other hand, has scored 30 of his 111 goals in the Premier League with his left foot, showing more quality with his weaker foot.
PL carrier | Salah | mane |
|---|---|---|
Appearance | 326 | 263 |
the goal | 193 | 111 |
goal with right foot | twenty four | 63 |
goal with left foot | 101 | 30 |
heading goal | 9 | 15 |
Mane was versatile in his goal-scoring style, scoring more goals with his weak foot and more headers in far fewer appearances and total goals than Salah.
Described as “explosive” by Under-23 scout Antonio Mango, Diomande has shown he can be a two-footed goalscorer and is similar to the former Southampton star in that sense.
Despite being primarily right-footed, the Ivorian winger has scored seven goals with his left foot and five with his right foot in this season’s Bundesliga, and scored one goal with his left foot and one goal with his right foot for Leganes in La Liga last year.
This shows that he has the versatility at the top end of the pitch to score with both feet, similar to Mane, but can also be a creative threat for the team.
Diomande has created 16 big chances in the Premier League, more than any other Liverpool player, and has provided seven assists in the Bundesliga so far this season.
The 19-year-old attacker has scored 12 goals and provided seven assists in the league this season and has the potential to replace Salah, but he could also do so in a way that reminds Liverpool supporters of how Mane once played at Anfield.
Overall, the teenage star’s age, potential, two-footed ability and proven track record in Europe’s major leagues could make him a great signing if the Reds can get him over the line.
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