{"id":43649,"date":"2026-02-23T15:31:49","date_gmt":"2026-02-23T20:31:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/02\/23\/liverpool-select-three-candidates-to-replace-mohamed-salah-as-summer-departure-approaches\/"},"modified":"2026-02-23T15:31:49","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T20:31:49","slug":"liverpool-select-three-candidates-to-replace-mohamed-salah-as-summer-departure-approaches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/02\/23\/liverpool-select-three-candidates-to-replace-mohamed-salah-as-summer-departure-approaches\/","title":{"rendered":"Liverpool select three candidates to replace Mohamed Salah as summer departure approaches"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/02\/23\/liverpool-select-three-candidates-to-replace-mohamed-salah-as-summer-departure-approaches\/#Candidates_to_replace_Mohamed_Salah_at_Heskey_Kvaratschelia_Bowen_Pulisic\" >Candidates to replace Mohamed Salah at Heskey: Kvaratschelia, Bowen, Pulisic<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/02\/23\/liverpool-select-three-candidates-to-replace-mohamed-salah-as-summer-departure-approaches\/#It_will_be_impossible_to_replace_Salahs_outrageous_numbers\" >It will be impossible to replace Salah&#8217;s outrageous numbers<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>(Photo credit: Richard Sellers\/Sportsphoto\/Allstar \/ Plumb Images\/Leicester City FC via Getty Images)<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<!-- Article Start --><\/p>\n<p><strong>As speculation intensifies over Mohamed Salah&#8217;s future at Liverpool, following his recent spat with Arne Slott and looming interest from the Saudi Professional League, former Reds striker Emile Heskey weighs in on the impossible task of filling in for the Egyptian King.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In an interview with OLBG (quoted by the Mirror), Heskey named three players who could replace Salah if the legendary number 11 leaves Anfield this summer.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Candidates_to_replace_Mohamed_Salah_at_Heskey_Kvaratschelia_Bowen_Pulisic\"><\/span>Candidates to replace Mohamed Salah at Heskey: Kvaratschelia, Bowen, Pulisic<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 612px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">(Photo courtesy of Liverpool FC\/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Heskey was quick to admit that there is no direct replacement for Salah, but highlighted Hvi\u010da Kvaratschelia as his main target.<\/p>\n<p>The Georgia international, who made a high-profile move from Napoli and is currently at PSG, is Heskey&#8217;s &#8216;go-to&#8217; choice due to his talent and game-changing ability.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re talking about replacing Mohamed Salah, but as a fan I think we should look at something else because you can&#8217;t replace Mo Salah. I remember one season I was talking to someone who said Mo had a bad season. He had 25 goals! I didn&#8217;t want to have a bad season like that.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We are talking about a player who has scored more than 20, almost 30 goals a season for 10 years. I don&#8217;t think you can replace Mo Salah, but I like the PSG player Hvi\u010da Kvaratskhelia. He will be my go-to.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 612px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.gettyimages.com\/id\/2205510999\/photo\/liverpool-england-khvicha-kvaratskhelia-of-paris-saint-germain-during-the-uefa-champions.jpg?s=612x612&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=8cBz6_fYTeO3qavIkS0CRvE4aqdqFi7gb2OYq78AuNw=\" alt=\"Paris Saint-Germain's Hvi\u010da Kvaratschelia during the UEFA Champions League 2024\/25 round of 16 second leg match between Liverpool and England\" width=\"612\" height=\"408\" style=\"aspect-ratio:612\/408;max-width:612px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">(Photo by Ryan Crockett\/DeFodi Images\/DeFodi, Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>However, the former England international also believes he is closer to home and has suggested West Ham&#8217;s Jarrod Bowen as a tactical replacement.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Will Jarrod Bowen be a downgrade from Mohamed Salah? I think most players would be a downgrade&#8230;But Bowen is a different type of player and will probably help the formation because he&#8217;s going to work a little harder than Mo,&#8221; Heskey added.<\/p>\n<p>The last name on the list was former Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic. Pulisic&#8217;s candor, currently reinvigorated in Italy, reminds Heskey of Salah&#8217;s own career path.<\/p>\n<p>He suggested that Pulisic could prove his critics wrong by returning to the Premier League, just as Salah did after leaving Chelsea for Serie A and returning to England.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I actually like Christian Pulisic a lot. He&#8217;s very direct. At Chelsea, I probably didn&#8217;t score as many goals as I would have liked, but I think he gave the defense problems.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe is definitely a player who can offer something different to Mohamed Salah or Kodi Gakpo, as he is feeling the pressure at home after a good World Cup.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Mo left Chelsea to go to Italy and see what he did for Liverpool. I think it&#8217;s great to see a player like Pulisic come back to the Premier League the same way. Maybe he wants to show that his time at Chelsea was just a blip. He was still a youngster when he came here.&#8221;<\/p>\n<table data-path-to-node=\"3\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>player<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>club<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>the goal<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>assist<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>G+A<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Play time (minutes)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"3,1,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"3,1,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">mohamed salah<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"3,1,1,0\">liverpool<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"3,1,2,0\">4<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"3,1,3,0\">6<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"3,1,4,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"3,1,4,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">10<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"3,1,5,0\">1,614<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"3,2,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"3,2,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Christian Pulisic<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"3,2,1,0\">ac milan<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"3,2,2,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"3,2,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">8<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"3,2,3,0\">2<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"3,2,4,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"3,2,4,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">10<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"3,2,5,0\">962<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"3,3,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"3,3,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Jarrod Bowen<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"3,3,1,0\">west ham<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"3,3,2,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"3,3,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">8<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"3,3,3,0\">3<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"3,3,4,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"3,3,4,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">11<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"3,3,5,0\">2,328<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"3,4,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"3,4,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">K. Kuvaratskheria<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"3,4,1,0\">P.S.G.<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"3,4,2,0\">4<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"3,4,3,0\">3<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"3,4,4,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"3,4,4,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">7<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"3,4,5,0\">953<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"It_will_be_impossible_to_replace_Salahs_outrageous_numbers\"><\/span>It will be impossible to replace Salah&#8217;s outrageous numbers<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Salah&#8217;s consistency is virtually unparalleled. Replacing a player who averaged nearly 30 goals a season for 10 years is nearly impossible.<\/p>\n<p>Since singing for Liverpool, Salah has broken almost every record and performed consistently every season for nine years.<\/p>\n<p>He recorded double-digit goals and assists in each season, amassing 252 goals and 121 assists in 429 competitive games.<\/p>\n<p>This has been his worst season in a Liverpool shirt, with him scoring seven goals and providing eight assists in all competitions so far.<\/p>\n<p>Even in the offseason, the Egyptian King is expected to exceed double-digit goal contributions.<\/p>\n<p>It would be impossible for the club to replace a player who has put up incredible numbers over the years.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><!-- Article End -->\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(Photo credit: Richard Sellers\/Sportsphoto\/Allstar \/ Plumb Images\/Leicester City FC via Getty Images) As speculation intensifies over Mohamed Salah&#8217;s future at Liverpool, following his recent spat with Arne Slott and looming interest from the Saudi Professional League, former Reds striker Emile Heskey weighs in on the impossible task of filling in for the Egyptian King. In [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":43650,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[40],"class_list":{"0":"post-43649","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football","8":"tag-football"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43649","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43649"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43649\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43650"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43649"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43649"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43649"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}