Richard Hughes Liverpool
© IMAGO - Richard Hughes Liverpool
Liverpool are looking for a permanent successor to Mohamed Salah.
The Egyptian King hasn’t been at his best so far this season - being dropped for the recent Premier League game against West Ham.
He will be off to the Africa Cup of Nations soon and also faces a gruelling summer with a FIFA World Cup campaign in store for the Pharaohs.
Salah will be 35 by the time his contract comes to an end in 2027 - and it’s now becoming apparent that the all-time great’s standards are slipping.
Liverpool looking at Ndiaye
Therefore it makes sense for sporting director Richard Hughes to scan the market for a replacement in 2026.
One of the names mentioned in recent weeks is Iliman Ndiaye.
The 25-year-old has been in sensational form for Liverpool’s crosstown rivals Everton this season. The Senegal international has got four goals and an assist for David Moyes’ side - and is really standing out as one of the silkiest dribblers in the top flight.
Accordingly he has been placed on the transfer radar of several top clubs - with a report in Foot Mercato suggesting Liverpool were among the teamskeeping tabs.
Everton would reluctantly accept £70m+ bid for Ndiaye
A very different player to Salah, Ndiaye nonetheless plays on the right side of the attack. But he is a true attacking all-rounder - playing No10, left wing and even up top throughout his career so far.
It looks like the former Sheffield United player is coming into his peak years and Everton will look for northwards of £70m to sell him in 2026.
That’s according to a new report in TEAMtalk - which adds that the Toffees have got no intention of letting him go in January. Everton are quite well protected from a transfer fee perspective with the playmaker signed up until 2029.
Nothing is impossible
The report also adds that they would rather not sell to Liverpool - but it’s encouraging that there seems to be a pathway to a deal. No doubt Ndiaye would prefer to play for a bigger club and Liverpool certainly fit the bill.
It would be an ambitious move to try to lure an Everton player to Anfield but nothing is impossible following last summer’s record-breaking window.
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