Mo Salah’s Liverpool future is uncertain after he criticised the club and suggested he wanted to leave just before he headed to the Africa Cup of Nations.
Liverpool were trying to sign Antoine Semenyo, who has managed nine goals in 17 Premier League appearances this season, but the Reds now look likely to miss out on the Ghanaian.
They were heavily linked to the Bournemouth star, who would have been an ideal replacement for the Egyptian.
Still, it appears that he’ll be heading to Manchester City instead, with MyBettingSites.co.uk revealing that bookmakers have suspended betting on the 25-year-old’s next club.
Now, the club will need to look elsewhere for someone who can match Salah, who consistently ranks high on sportsbook sites that bettors access via MyBettingSites.co.uk.
Their main focus?
Finding an attacker with a number of key traits – good on the ball, the ability to be a creator, and a good finisher.
With that in mind, we’ve identified three top replacements should Salah depart in January.
Yan Diomande
Yan Diomande is only 19 years old, but he’s making a huge name for himself in Europe this season.
The winger, who can play on the left or the right, is already an Ivory Coast international and is representing his country at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Diomande is shining for RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga and already has six goals and two assists in 14 appearances.
He has managed five shot creating-actions per 90 minutes, six progressive carries per 90 and four successful take ons per 90.
Diomande doesn’t just know where the back of the net is, though – he’s also an absolute menace for opposition defenders with his top dribbling skills.
With Diomande still in the early stages of his career, he’s not just an exciting talent for now, but also for years to come.
Michael Olise
It’s no shock to see Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise linked with a move to Arne Slot’s side.
The French international is excelling in Germany, managing 37 assists and 30 goals in his 80 appearances for the European giants.
Olise has continued to shine this season, establishing himself as one of the most important players for the club.
The right winger has managed two successful take-ons per 90 minutes, six shot-creating actions per 90, and seven progressive passes per 90.
Olise really feels like the full package.
He can get past players with ease and is great at scoring and creating goals.
The player is already a title winner with top European experience, with very similar traits to Salah, and he seems like the perfect replacement.
Olise also has Premier League experience with Crystal Palace, and although his time at the Eagles saw him suffer a couple of big injuries in his last season, he became a fan favourite and showed glimpses of his now world-class ability.
In his last campaign for the club, Olise managed 10 goals and six assists in 19 appearances.
Bradley Barcola
Bradley Barcola is a top talent performing well at PSG, and he definitely has the traits to replace Salah and star in the Premier League.
He isn’t scared to take defenders on and shines with top talent around him.
Barcola manages four shot-creating actions per 90 minutes, 1.5 successful take-ons per 90, and five progressive carries per 90, so he does perform well in the areas that Salah shines in.
Barcola does need to improve certain facets of his game, though.
Arguably, he doesn’t provide as many goals as he should.
He has five goals in 13 Ligue 1 appearances, and has missed six big chances this season.
Despite this, there is still potential for the 23-year-old to excel at Liverpool.
With the club having top goalscoring talents like Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike, the emphasis wouldn’t be on Barcola to always be the top scorer, but more to be the creator and the attacking threat.
His stats per 90 prove that he can be the asset that Liverpool needs.
It’s always going to be tough for Liverpool to replace Salah.
He is a club legend who has won a string of major trophies at Anfield.
Even if he doesn’t leave in January, Slot will still need to find a successor soon, as the Egyptian is 34 next summer.
Signing a player who already has top abilities, as well as the potential to grow even more, is the perfect option, and the three players mentioned would all shine at the Merseyside club.
