On Tuesday, both Mohamed Salah and Liverpool confirmed the forward would leave Anfield this summer.
The mutual uncoupling, as we’ll call it, will bring the curtains down on a nine-year association between player and club. Salah’s departure will hurt Liverpool. Yes, he hasn’t been at his best this season.
However, the Egyptian bagged 29 goals and provided 18 assists in their Premier League title triumph in 2024-25. It was the most goal involvements by a player in a 38-game campaign. Since moving to Merseyside in 2017, Salah’s been directly involved in 281 goals, more than any other player. He’ll leave as Liverpool’s third-highest ever goalscorer with 255 goals to his name.
Securing his replacement, then, will be no easy feat. Liverpool have a tough task on their hands, and then some. And that’s where Squawka come in to help the Reds.
Using the Comparison Matrix, we’ve picked out a Dream, Realistic and Wildcard Salah replacement option. We’ll round off with who we suggest the Reds should pursue.
Who should Liverpool sign to replace Salah?
Dream: Michael Olise
“We won’t contribute to them playing better next year.” Bayern Munich honorary president Uli Hoeness spoke candidly following reports Liverpool would be prepared to break the bank to sign Michael Olise.
And in order to harbour any hopes of signing Olise, Liverpool would have to dig deep to fund a move for the former Crystal Palace man. Is there any money left in the Bank of Coutinho?
The 24-year-old has, again, shone for Bayern this season. Indeed, Olise has 11 goals and 17 assists to his name in the Bundesliga this season. The latter is more than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues. He’s one of two players to have registered double figures for both goals and assists.
Olise’s showings for Bayern have blown Salah’s out of the water. The FC Hollywood star is creating more chances per 90 minutes (3.3), completing more take-ons per 90 (2.4) and boasts a better take-on success rate (42.22%) than Salah.
He’d be a dream signing for any team. For a Liverpool side looking to land their next superstar, Olise would be perfect. Good luck luring him away from the Allianz Arena, however.
Realistic: Yan Diomande
From one Bundesliga side to another, Yan Diomande has been a revelation for RB Leipzig this season. The Ivorian was heavily linked with a January move. However, Leipzig priced the former Leganes man out of a winter exit, and for good reason.
Diomande has shot to superstardom since making the move to the Red Bull Arena last year. And his showings in Germany have caught the attention of a number Europe’s heavy hitters, with Liverpool among those tracking the Ivory Coast international.
The 19-year-old’s game isn’t quite as refined as Salah or Olise, though that is to be expected of a player his age. Nevertheless, Diomande is still creating a modest 2.1 chances per 90 in Germany’s top tier this term.
He’s also more direct than both Salah and Olise, evident in that the RB Leipzig star is averaging 4.2 completed take-ons per 90. A take-on success rate of 58% is also notable. Diomande has also proven he has the knack for the spectacular. His 10 goals come from an Expected Goals haul of 5.64. Only Harry Kane and Deniz Undav boast a higher xG overperformance.
RB Leipzig still hold all the cards. There is no release clause in the contract Diomande signed when he joined from Leganes last summer. Yet if Liverpool are looking to land a franchise player, then Diomande is probably the one they should go all guns blazing for.
Wildcard: Harry Wilson
The return of the prodigal son. Harry Wilson departed Liverpool for Fulham permanently back in 2022 following a series of loan spells across the English football pyramid. Wilson hardly set the Premier League alight until this season.
The Welshman has scored 10 goals and provided an additional six assists for the Cottagers. Fulham are desperate to prolong the winger’s stay at Craven Cottage, though the player himself is unlikely to extend his stay in west London.
Wilson’s form this season has caught the eye of a number of Premier League sides. They are keen to lure the 29-year-old away from London on a free transfer this summer. Could Liverpool instead bring Wilson back to Anfield this summer?
He boasts a better shot accuracy (55.81%) and conversion rate (23.26%) than Salah this season. A 54.17% take-on success rate also dwarfs the departing Liverpool star, though both are completing 0.6 take-ons per 90.
Even so, Wilson would be a cost-effective alternative for the right flank. The Wales international is a Premier League experienced option, so wouldn’t need time to adjust to the division, while his arrival would allow the Reds to invest elsewhere.
Conversely, he’s not quite the big-name fans crave. This one is unlikely.
Squawka Suggests: Yan Diomande
Bayern’s steadfast refusal to sell Olise, despite a potential club-record financial package, means there is logically one choice here. Splashing the cash on another Bundesliga star is a risk in itself.
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However, the ease with which Yan Diomande adjusted to the Bundesliga following a bit-part role with Leganes is proof that he could transition to the Premier League. Admittedly successfully making the move from Germany to England is easier said than done. Just ask Florian Wirtz.
Diomande’s game, though, seems well-suited to the Premier League. He’d tie defences in knots with ease. And while interest in Diomande is expected to be high this summer, Liverpool should go all-in to sign the wing-wizard as a Salah successor.
