Arsenal and Liverpool are Premier League title rivals, but Craig Burley has tipped Arne Slot’s side to try to sign a key player from Mikel Arteta’s team.
Mohamed Salah is out of contract at Liverpool at the end of the season. While the Anfield outfit have offered the Egypt international forward a new deal (The Athletic), it remains to be seen if he agrees to it.
The 32-year-old is one of the best players in the world. Salah is a world-class goalscoring machine, and replacing the former Chelsea attacker would be tough for Liverpool.
While ESPN pundit Craig Burley does not think that Bukayo Saka would be able to replicate the goalscoring feats of Salah at Liverpool, the former Chelsea player believes that the Arsenal winger would be a very good signing for the Reds.
Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka tipped as potential Mohamed Salah replacement at Liverpool
Burley said on ESPN: “If Liverpool have a successful season, and they are favourites at the moment, and Mo Salah eventually goes and Arsenal are floundering around, why wouldn’t somebody like Liverpool come in for somebody like him?
“I am not saying he would replicate Salah’s goals because that would be difficult for anybody from that position, but in terms of quality on that right side, then he’s as good as anybody else apart from Mo Salah.
“Now, replacing the goals are difficult, but that’s not to say we go from Arsenal to Liverpool. That’s just to say, as Frank (Leboeuf) said, that’s a decision to be made.”
Arsenal are unlikely to sell Bukayo Saka to Liverpool
It is unlikely that Arsenal will sell any of their best players, including Saka, especially to a direct Premier League title rival like Liverpool.
After all, under manager Mikel Arteta, Arsenal have established themselves as one of the main title contenders.
Saka is a key player for the Gunners and has also come through the North London club’s youth system.
Arsenal fans will not be happy at all if Arsenal sold ‘one of their own’. And Saka himself may not been on leaving the Gunners, especially for another club in the Premier League.
While Saka is not as prolific a goalscorer as Salah, let us not forget that he is only 23 now. The England international winger is still developing and improving as a player.
Salah has scored 170 goals and given 77 assists in 277 appearances in the Premier League so far in his career.
Saka has found the back of the net 52 times and has provided 45 assists in 184 appearances in the Premier League.