Post-Klopp Era: Should Liverpool Cash In On Mo Salah This Summer Transfer Window?

Mo Salah is easily one of the best signings the Reds made under Jurgen Klopp. He will no doubt also go down as one of the greatest players to ever put on the Liverpool Jersey.

The Egyptian is currently Liverpool’s 5th all-time top goal scorer with 186 goals in 283 matches. Other individual records the forward can boast of are:

• Most Champions League goals not only for Liverpool but also for an English club (41).
• Fastest player to reach 150 Liverpool goals (203 games).
• Most Premier League goals scored in a season for Liverpool (32).
• Most Liverpool hat-tricks in the Premier League era (4).

Aside from individual records, Mo Salah was also a member of the legendary Firmino-Mane-Salah attacking trio. They were a nightmare for defenses across Europe. Firmino’s intelligent movement and hold-up play created space for Salah’s electrifying runs and clinical finishing, while Mané’s directness and skill on the ball stretched defenses to the limit. 

Their relentless pressing and work rate also forced opponents into errors, making them a cohesive and devastating attacking force that terrorized defenses, particularly in the Premier League and Champions League.

Both Firmino and Mane have since departed Anfield, however, Salah has not diminished in his work rate and output. This is one of the many exceptional qualities of the winger.

Golden eras must inevitably come to an end. It’s no longer news that Jurgen Klopp has departed from Liverpool after almost nine years in charge. As of June 1, Arne Slot became the new Liverpool manager. One of the core reasons why the former Feyenoord boss was appointed was because his coaching philosophy is very similar to that of Klopp. However, it is not a carbon copy.

That being said, it has to be discussed how the current Liverpool players, particularly the attackers, would fit into Arne Slot’s management style. One of the reasons why Mo Salah has been so prolific at Liverpool is because Klopp gave him a lot of free reign to operate. Will this status quo remain Arne Slot? Only time and the new Liverpool boss can reveal this.

Should Liverpool Seriously Consider Cashing In On Mo Salah?

For over a year now, the Saudi Pro League has made their intentions very clear their intentions to sign Mo Salah. Mido, a former Premier League and Egyptian player has even claimed that the winger has already signed a contract to play in Saudi Arabia next season. There are also rumors that the Saudi League is also interested in other Liverpool players. Apparently, it isn’t only Mo Salah they have their eyes on.

Since his debut season, the Egyptian has been nothing short of spectacular in the past seven years he has been at Anfield. However, Salah is 31 years old, and at some point, age will inevitably play a role in diminishing his performance. In January, Salah suffered a back injury while preparing for AFCON. This injury kept him out of the tournament plus, sidelined the 31-year-old till March. Plus, it took Salah a while to regain his form after recovering from the injury

The last time Mo Salah was out of action for this long because of an injury was back in 2018 when Sergio Ramos injured his shoulder in the Champions League final.

Taking into consideration Salah’s age and the very demanding nature of the English Premier League, it would be a very shrewd business if Liverpool sold him to a Saudi Arabian club. There is no doubt that the club that would recruit the winger would pay a very pretty penny to acquire his services.

Also, Salah has less than a year left on his current Liverpool contract. The Reds are left with two options: sell him for a huge amount this summer or watch him potentially leave the club as a free agent in a year’s time. It is obvious to all what the better alternative is.

One also has to consider Mo Salah’s recent controversial behavior. 

During Liverpool’s dramatic 2-2 draw against West Ham back in February, tensions flared between Salah and manager Jurgen Klopp. Left out of the starting lineup, Salah displayed visible frustration when Klopp called upon him as a substitute in the second half. Cameras captured an exchange on the touchline where Salah refused Klopp’s customary handshake and hug, instead engaging in a heated argument. 

The argument cast a shadow over the match and fueled speculation about a rift between both of them. In the aftermath, Salah refused to comment on the incident in post-match interviews, and stated “If I speak, there will be fire.” This cryptic remark left fans and pundits wondering about the true nature of the outburst and its potential impact on Liverpool’s future.

Back in May, the winger sparked another controversy when he posted a photo on Instagram of a book titled “Surrounded by Idiots” by Swedish author Thomas Erikson. The book explores communication and conflict resolution strategies, but the title alone led many to speculate about Salah’s intentions and potential targets. Some interpreted the post as a veiled reference to his recent on-field spat with Jurgen Klopp or possibly even tensions with teammates.

Many, if not all managers do not want players with this type of ego in the squad. It is very bad for the morale of a team. Plus, it sends a very wrong message to the younger players in the squad. 

For the wellbeing of the Liverpool squad, the best strategy might be to sell Mo Salah this summer.

Potential Replacements For Mo Salah

Liverpool’s gengenpressing era is alas coming to an end. Jurgen Klopp has departed Liverpool and a new manager is at the helm of affairs. Mo Salah, the remaining member of the Firmino-Mane-Salah attacking trio could potentially leave the club soon. 

One thing that is inevitable in life is change and we all must make the best of these changes. Should the Egyptian leave this summer, the funds would be best spent on signing a player who has his exceptional qualities and also compliments Arne Slot’s style of play.

Here are some potential replacements:

Mohammed Kudus (West Ham, 23): Like Salah, Kudus is a versatile attacker comfortable on the wing or as a central attacking midfielder. He has good pace, dribbling skills, and an eye for goal. 

Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford, 24): Mbeumo shares Salah’s physical attributes – he’s strong, pacy, and has a powerful shot.  His directness and power could add a different dimension to Liverpool’s attack under Slot, who also values stretching defenses with pace. 

Johan Bakayoko (PSV Eindhoven, 21): Bakayoko is a creative winger with good dribbling skills and the ability to create chances for himself and his teammates.  His creativity aligns well with Slot’s system, which encourages attacking players to be expressive and take risks. 

Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen, 21):  Wirtz is a highly skilled attacker with excellent close control and playmaking ability despite his young age. His technical quality and vision would be assets in Slot’s system, which thrives on intricate passing combinations. However, Wirtz is more of a creative midfielder than a direct winger like Salah, and he would need time to develop his goalscoring.

Xavi Simons (PSV Eindhoven, 19):  Similar to Wirtz, Simons is a young talent with excellent technical skills and dribbling ability.  His potential is undeniable, but he is still very raw. While his technical skills align with Slot’s system, he would need significant time to develop the physicality and experience needed to replace Salah’s all-around impact.

This article was updated 1 month ago