The transfer window may have slammed shut in England, but Liverpool are still trying to deter Saudi Arabia from stealing their man. However, the deal would be around £200 million for a player who is 31! Yet Mo Salah is still very much the main man at Liverpool and has a major part to play for The Redmen, as was evident on the weekend against Aston Villa by scoring the third and final goal. He also picked up the personal accolade of man of the match.
This purring display will only intensify the interest of Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad, who already placed a £150 million bid for the Egyptian international last week.
What is the likelihood of Salah leaving?
Salah is such a main player for Liverpool, and with the window shut leaving Liverpool unable to replace him anytime soon, then it would be a huge risk. There seemed to be no animosity between manager Jurgen Klopp and Salah on the weekend despite the transfer speculation.
It would take a lot of consideration for Liverpool to let Salah go, but one pundit feels they should and has the perfect replacement lineup in January.
Paul Merson says Arsenal star is the man to replace Salah
Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson stated on Saturday that Liverpool should accept the £200 million bid for Salah that is expected to be placed soon. Merson is not doubting the fact that Mo Salah is still a very important player for Liverpool, but £200 million for a 31-year-old is an astronomical fee that they would not get elsewhere.
Rather than cash in now and let the money just sit there doing nothing, Merson believes that Liverpool should go all out and sign the next big star, which he believes to be Bukayo Saka of Arsenal.
Saka is certainly the next big winger sensation, and at just 21 years old, there is a future element that could tempt Liverpool as they are in the process of reinventing their side. Merson believes to land Saka Liverpool should spend around £150 million in January.
It would be an audacious move, and Liverpool could (and more than likely would!) struggle without Salah, but knowing that Saka would be on the way in January, it could well be the icing on the cake for Klopp’s new Liverpool title challengers.