Mohamed Salah is currently enjoying another sensational season for Liverpool. The Egyptian boasts 28 goals from his 37 matches in all competitions.
The forward has also chipped in with ten assists, linking up expertly with fellow attackers Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz.
Indeed, the Reds have assembled quite the attacking lineup under Jurgen Klopp. The boss has five superb options to choose from for his front three. He also has the likes of squad players Takumi Minamino, Divock Origi and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at his disposal.
It is, however, Salah who is the one player that remains the least droppable player of the lot. He is crucial for Klopp, primarily for the goals he brings to the team.
But the winger’s current contract situation may just be a slight worry for the manager. Salah has reportedly yet to agree to new terms with the Reds. There is certainly no need to panic, but fans of the club will be extremely comforted by the knowledge that their star man will remain with them for the foreseeable future.
But if no deal is reached, Liverpool could be forced to look elsewhere for someone to fill the spot at right-wing.
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Which Premier League wingers could replace Salah at Liverpool?
To say this has been the season for wingers would be an understatement. Salah and Mane both find themselves very high in the Premier League scoring charts this season, as do Son Heung-min, Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling, all of whom have largely played out wide throughout the campaign.
Two other wingers that have hugely impressed are West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen and Leeds’ Raphinha. They perhaps stand out from the rest considering they are playing for clubs outside the so-called ‘Big Six’, yet are producing fantastic displays week in and week out.
Jarrod Bowen
After managing a goal and assisting in West Ham’s recent victory over, Bowen now has nine goals and eight assists in the current Premier League campaign. No other English has been involved in more goals in the league this season than the Hammers star.
The 25-year-old has simply gotten better and better since first emerging onto the big stage with Hull City. He is now one of the most potent attackers in the league and is key to what West Ham have achieved under David Moyes this season.
Importantly for Liverpool, Bowen is at home on the right-wing. His dazzling dribbles and inch-perfect passes have come from cutting in on his stronger left foot, much like Salah. With a World Cup coming up, the winger will be desperate for a place on the plane to Qatar.
Raphinha
Leeds will want to keep hold of star man Raphinha at all costs. But the club have massively underperformed this season, and a player of his quality will undoubtedly be wanting to challenge for many trophies.
Liverpool would most certainly provide Raphinha with this option, but they may find themselves in an intense battle for his services this summer. The likes of Barcelona are reportedly heavily interested.
The 25-year-old has nine goals and three assists this season for a struggling Leeds outfit, so one can only imagine just how effective he would be alongside the likes of Firmino, Mane, Diaz, and Jota if indeed Salah does move on. Like Salah and Bowen, Raphina is another who largely operates on the right-wing.
Bukayo Saka, Michael Olise
Two other Premier League stars who could be on Klopp’s radar are Bukayo Saka and Michael Olise. Both have somewhat gone under the radar this season, despite producing many match-winning moments for their respective clubs.
Saka has been one of the most crucial players of Arsenal’s revival in recent months. The 20-year-old has hit double figures for goals and links up perfectly with the other Gunners attackers in the final third.
Elise meanwhile has focused on assists instead of goals. He has set up eight Crystal Palace goals this season and has been a revelation since joining from Reading.
While both players have largely played at right midfield this season, it would be a welcome challenge for Klopp to try and turn them into world-class wingers.
Which European wingers could Klopp turn to?
Of course, major names such as PSG and France star Kylian Mbappe will be at the top of the list of many Liverpool fans. The Reds have been linked with the winger in recent times, as well as Belgium youngster Jeremy Doku and Bayer Leverkusen talent Moussa Diaby.
All three would be exciting replacements for Salah. Also on the list of potential successors are Villarreal duo Arnaut Danjuma and Yeremy Pino.
While short of the status of Mbappe, both Federico Chiesa and Ousmane Dembele would provide much excitement around Anfield. Klopp worked with the latter during his time at Borussia Dortmund, so that would undoubtedly help the French international settle into life in England relatively quickly.
Do Liverpool already have a ready-made Salah replacement?
There are, of course, a handful of Reds who would want to be promoted to a starting role on the right should Salah make an exit in the near future. Both Diaz and Mane are undoubtedly more comfortable on the left, but both have the capacity to operate on the right with equal effect.
Diaz would perhaps be the most likely to be sent to right-wing, given Mane’s many years of successful service under Klopp.
There is also the presence of youngster Harvey Elliott. He’s proven on many occasions this season that he can be relied on in the big matches. He has largely been selected in midfield when put into the fray by Klopp, but right-wing is certainly not unfamiliar to the exciting 19-year-old.
The Liverpool boss will – like all connected to the club – be hoping for a swift resolution to the apparent contract situation with Salah as soon as possible.
