’21 goal contributions’ – Klopp eye ‘perfect’ target when time comes to replace Mohamed Salah

“The answer would be no,” Jürgen Klopp said during a news conference this week when questioned about Mohamed Salah’s future this summer. The Egyptian, like most outstanding European football players, is on the radar of Saudi Arabian teams, but Liverpool has made its position clear.

As Fabrizio Romano revealed, Al-Ittihad is interested in Salah this summer, and while Liverpool has stated that he is not for sale, you never know in this market. The sums of money involved can be enticing at times.

After all, Liverpool did not anticipate losing Fabinho or Jordan Henderson this summer, but the club was simply presented with an offer it could not reject. In Salah’s situation, that offer would have to be a world record, and substantially higher than any amount Liverpool has ever received.

But if such a large sum is given, even this late in the transfer window, Liverpool and Salah would have to consider it. Saudi Arabia has demonstrated its desire by making an unprecedented foray into the European market, enticing star assets such as Neymar.

The majority of teams now have star-studded squads, and the substantial pay on offer make relocating to the Saudi Pro League an intriguing proposition.

If that happens, which seems unlikely at the moment, Liverpool’s choice to replace Salah should be Jarrod Bowen, a player who has been on the club’s radar in the past and is young enough to remain an option even if Salah needs to be replaced next summer or in 2025, when his current contract expires.

Back in 2021, Klopp revealed in a press conference prior to Liverpool’s away game against West Ham that he liked Bowen’s style of play. He is a player who might make an immediate impact at Anfield.

“I like Bowen a lot,” Klopp remarked back then. “He came up from Hull and didn’t take long to show what kind of player he can be in the Premier League.” He took significant steps.”

Bowen, a left-footed right-winger with quick feet, pace, and fire to burn, has all it takes to be a successful winger on Liverpool’s right flank. He is also in his prime at 26 years old and has been in terrific shape.

In three Premier League appearances, he scored two goals and assisted once. Meanwhile, he scored 21 goals for West Ham in all competitions last season, and 31 the season before that. He has the ability to score goals as well as generate opportunities for his teammates.

Replacing Salah would be nearly hard, but Bowen would be an excellent choice to replace the right-wing position. He wouldn’t be too expensive though, with a deal until 2025, and Liverpool would then be able to put the rest of the money available into other issue areas in the squad.

At the moment, it’s an incredibly unlikely situation, but Liverpool will have to confront the difficult problem of replacing Salah at some point. Ideally, that would be a distance away, but if it is within the next year or two, Bowen is unquestionably the greatest option to replace him.