Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are entering the final few months of their respective Liverpool contracts
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Xavi Simons of Leipzig battles for possession with Mohammed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD3 on October 23, 2024 in Leipzig
(Image: Edith Geuppert - GES Sportfoto/Getty Images)
Former Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann believes the club could be at risk of losing Mohamed Salah to Bayern Munich on a free transfer this summer. But the 2005 Champions League winner thinks RB Leipzig's Xavi Simons would make a fine addition to Arne Slot's squad.
Salah, like club captain Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, is out of contract at the end of the campaign and despite the Egyptian being keen to stay put on Merseyside, there has been no sign of an agreement between the club and his representatives as he closes in on the final few weeks of his terms at Anfield.
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The 32-year-old, who has scored 32 times in all competitions this term, has been tentatively linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League but credible links to European giants have been thin on the ground, despite the intense speculation over Salah's long-term future.
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Hamann, who played for the Reds for seven years between 1999 and 2006, thinks Bundesliga champions Bayern would be a good fit for Salah, should he leave Liverpool later this year. And the ex-Germany international also gave his take on Van Dijk's current situation, believing Europe's major clubs will all be taking a closer look.
"Mohamed Salah to Bayern Munich would be very exciting," Hamann told PokerScout. "Bayern have Kingsley Coman, who hasn’t been the best recently, Leroy Sane looks set to leave the club, and the most impressive has been Michael Olise who signed last summer, so I think they need two or three wide players for next season.
"Just like bringing Harry Kane to the club, it would be hugely exciting to see Salah at Bayern but also for the Bundesliga to have a player like Salah. Even if it was just for one or two years, I would absolutely love to see it."
On Van Dijk, Hamann added: "There are not many teams that he wouldn’t improve. The longer the contract wait goes on the more offers he will have, there will be five or six clubs knocking on his door already.
"Bayern Munich have had a few issues defensively, but they're pretty solid at the moment. Having said that, if he’s available, it’ll be about if he sees himself in Munich or Milan or wherever.
"All big clubs including Bayern will have to see what’s possible because there are not many teams who wouldn't improve with him in the side."
Hamann also believes RB Leipzig winger Simons would be an ideal capture for Slot's squad, with the former midfielder likening the Netherlands international to Philippe Coutinho.
"I think Xavi Simons is ready to join a club like Liverpool," Hamann said. "He pretty much carries that RB Leipzig team and has done so well, you’d just have to think about his position. He plays in an advanced role at the moment, so would need Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister behind or beside him.
"I think he is already and I’d say he is a similar player to Philippe Coutinho, which makes you think about how he left the club, but Simons is ready to play for a big club. There's a chance Leipzig won't get in the Champions League which would have an impact too, he is a brilliant player with great feet, an eye for goal and brings his team-mates into play.
"Liverpool don’t have a creator like him, it’s probably something they lack, they are very physical and have pace but the most similar player to Simons is probably Curtis Jones. He would certainly improve them."