It will be another summer of change for Liverpool Football Club as winger Mohamed Salah will leave Anfield at the end of the season.
The Egyptian announced he was moving to pastures new after nine years on Merseyside, and has since done so as one of the most influential players to wear a red shirt.
He has scored 257 goals in 440 games for the Reds, which puts him second only to Ian Rush and Roger Hunt in the club’s all-time rankings.
However, Arne Slott and his team have the big task of replacing the 33-year-old this summer, which could see big money thrown into the transfer market once again.
A number of transfer targets have already been identified by the reinforcement squad, with players both inside and outside the Premier League expected to move.
Liverpool’s all-time leading scorer | |
|---|---|
player | the goal |
Ian Rush | 339 |
roger hunt | 280 |
mohamed salah | 257 |
gordon hodgson | 234 |
Billy Liddell | 220 |
Steven Gerrard | 186 |
Liverpool begin work on signing £70m Premier League star
In recent weeks, RB Leipzig star Yann Diomande has become one of Liverpool’s main transfer targets ahead of the summer after electrifying the Bundesliga in 2025/26.
The 19-year-old winger scored 12 league goals in his debut season in Germany, prompting the Reds to enter talks to sign the Ivorian if a slot opens up.
However, the current price tag could be a stumbling block for the Slot manager, as signing a Slot player would cost close to €100m (about £87m) in fees.
Other areas of the pitch are also expected to be strengthened by the hierarchy during the off-season, with Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton re-emerging on the shortlist.
According to a report from TEAMtalk, Liverpool have already started talks with the Eagles over the possibility of signing the England international during the summer.
The 22-year-old has been named as a top target to replace Curtis Jones, according to reports, with Jones potentially set to leave this window due to his lack of first-team minutes.
Like Diomande, signing him in the summer transfer window could cost a fortune, with manager Oliver Glasner demanding a fee in the region of £70m for his services.
Why Wharton is a better signing for Liverpool than Diomande
As mentioned above, the RB Leipzig star is seen as a dream successor to the departing Salah, and there is a good chance that Diomande could be signed this summer.
He has shown this term that he is a big talent despite his young age, with the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea also interested in signing the teenager for a big-money deal.
However, while there are positive aspects for everyone, a big-money transfer also has the potential for the transfer to fail, so caution should be taken with such moves.
Most goal contributions in Bundesliga (2025/26) | |
|---|---|
player | tally |
harry kane | 38 |
michael orise | 31 |
Luis Diaz | 28 |
Deniz Undav | twenty three |
Christoph Buamgartner | 19 |
Yann Diomand | 19 |
Andrei Kramaric | 17 |
Selhou Girasi | 16 |
His one season in Europe’s top five leagues is a small sample size for the Reds, so the hierarchy should target a more experienced wide man with a proven track record in the Premier League.
Although he may operate in a different position to Diomand, signing Wharton could be a better deal for the Reds, with the Englishman likely to be a central part of the team for years to come.
Unlike the Ivorian, he has been a consistent performer in England’s top flight over the past few seasons, often attracting attention with his impressive basic numbers.
Many of his statistics from the current campaign highlight his quality at such a young age, and £70m could be a bargain if a deal is completed in the coming period.
Wharton may not have scored a single goal this season, but his five assists in England’s top flight is testament to his ability to create opportunities for the players in front of him.
His great ability to contribute to the players in front of him is also reflected in his record of creating 0.5 big chances per 90, which is higher than 96% of other midfielders in this division.
He also confirmed his sensational ability in possession, completing 52% of his dribble attempts and 28% of his crosses into the opposition box.
However, even without the ball, the Englishman is attracting attention, as evidenced by his impressive 2.4 tackles and 5.5 ball recoveries per 90.
As a result, he could be the perfect long-term box-to-box option for the Reds, and also has top-division experience that could immediately appeal to Anfield fans.
There is no doubt that Diomande would be an exciting signing for Liverpool, but given the frenzied summer last time around, the bosses need to prioritize a deal that is sure to be a success.
Wharton could take his career to the next level on Merseyside after impressing at Selhurst Park, so paying £87m for a player who has never been on the radar in England would be a bit of a risk.
A better deal than Wharton: Liverpool are already in talks to sign £42m talent
Liverpool are preparing for another busy summer on the transfer front.
