Liverpool are expected to lose Mo Salah during the summer transfer window and as per rumours, the Premier League are looking at the Barcelona squad for replacements.
The Anfield outfit wanted to bring in Kylian Mbappe as Salah’s replacement but now that the Frenchman is heading to Real Madrid, Liverpool will have to initiate their alternative targets.
Al-Ittihad wanted to sign Mo Salah last summer, but Liverpool refused to let him leave. Nevertheless, the Reds will find it challenging to retain him, especially considering that Jurgen Klopp is also stepping down from his position.
Salah’s departure will leave a big hole in Liverpool’s front line and it seems like the club’s now targeting Raphinha and Ansu Fati.
Liverpool had previously tried to sign Raphinha when he was a Leeds player but the Brazilian chose to join Barcelona. Since 2022, the winger has played in 70 games for Barca, scoring 14 and assisting 19 goals. This season, he’s featured in 15 league matches with eight goal contributions against his name.
Ansu Fati, on the other hand, is currently out on loan to Brighton and so far, he’s scored just two goals in 10 Premier League games for the club.
The youngster broke into the scene when he was still a teenager but constant injuries have ruined his progress.
The 21-year-old has missed more than 100 games for Barca due to various injuries and since joining Brighton, he’s been out for close to 70 days with a calf injury. Fati’s contract expires in 2024 and Barcelona will be more than happy to cash in on him but we doubt if Liverpool will want to sign such an injury-prone winger as the long-term replacement for Mo Salah.
Raphinha, however, can be the ideal heir to Mo Salah because the Brazilian is a natural right winger and since joining the Camp Nou outfit, he’s done very well.
The 27-year-old does not wish to leave Barcelona and return to the EPL but Barca need funds to balance their books so the right price will see them offload Raphinha. His contract expires in 2027 and his current market value is €50 million so Barcelona should demand around €80-100 million for him.
Liverpool are not known as massive spenders in the transfer market but they will be able to bring in around €100-120 million from Salah’s exit so paying a premium fee for Raphinha won’t be a problem for the Fenway group.
Since joining Liverpool in 2017, Mo Salah has made 332 appearances, netting an impressive 204 goals. As one of the standout stars at Anfield in recent memory, the winger’s contributions are substantial, making the prospect of replacing him undoubtedly challenging.
A player of Kylian Mbappe’s calibre would have been an ideal successor to Mo Salah, but with his impending move to Real Madrid, that option is no longer available. Ansu Fati seems to be a less suitable choice, whereas Raphinha possesses the qualities necessary to step into Salah’s shoes. In addition to these two, the names of Jarrod Bowen and Michael Olise are also circulating as potential replacements.
