Liverpool's Mohamed Salah is struggling - but you should think twice before selling him in FPLplaceholder image
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah is struggling - but you should think twice before selling him in FPL | Getty Images
Mo Salah won’t be around forever, is this who Liverpool should target to replace the Egyptian king?
With 29 goals and 18 assists, the 33-year old broke all sorts of records and rightly swept the boards in awards season. Instead of being on a post-30 decline, the Reds no.11 seemed to be getting even better. Fast forward a few months and Salah has been dropped by Arne Slot with just three goals in nine league appearances as the manager struggles to find a winning formula and a way to fit Florian Wirtz into the team.
Who Liverpool should target to replace Mohamed Salah
There will come a time when Liverpool will have to cope without Salah on a permanent basis and replacing the Anfield legend will be no easy task. One way is what Slot appears to have been trying to do this summer. No natural wingers were signed despite the loss of Luis Diaz with Jeremie Frimpong a hybrid wide player and Rio Ngumoha being promoted from the academy. Instead, Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak were signed to replace Salah’s goals accumulatively. With Wirtz also on board, it seemed like a sound plan. It might yet work, but so far things haven’t quite clicked for a number of reasons.
Another option that could present itself is for Liverpool to take advantage of Salah now being under a long-term contract and by cashing in on the inevitable interest from Saudi Arabia. The talismanic winger has nothing to prove and might fancy spending his last few years on the pitch in the sun. To replace a superstar, Liverpool should sign a superstar. After an apparent falling out with Xabi Alonso, Vinicius Jnr could be on his way out of Real Madrid.
The 25-year old has nine goal contributions in 10 La Liga games so far this season despite not being at his best with Alonso leading his team to the top of the table and clear of Barcelona already. In total, Vinicius has over 200 goals and assists in 335 appearances. There are few wingers in Europe who are as consistently productive as the Brazil international. Selling Salah could go a long way to fund an audacious move for a player who has tormented all of the continent’s best full-backs.
What did Vinicius Junior say in fall out with Alonso?
Madrid were 2-1 up when Vinicius was substituted by Alonso in the recent edition of El Clasico with former Liverpool target Rodrygo coming off the bench to replace him. After pointing at himself several times when his number was held up, Vinicius is reported to have said: "Me, it's always me, I'm leaving the team, it's better that I go”. Used to being the main man, he hasn’t quite adapted to Alonso’s team first ethos.
Despite not being on the pitch, he still managed to get involved with a fracas at full-time which involved most of the players and backroom staff. "El Clasico is like that," Vinicius told Real Madrid TV. "There are a lot of things happening on and off the pitch. We try to maintain a balance, but it's not always possible. We didn't want to offend anyone, not Barca players, nor the fans. We know that when we step on to the pitch, we have to defend our side, and that's how it was today." One thing Vinicius doesn’t lack is character, but could he replace Salah?
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