Liverpool could reportedly lose two replacements for Mohamed Salah next season in a domino effect caused by Kylian Mbappe’s proposed switch from Paris Saint-Germain to Real Madrid. The Reds have been loosely linked with Mbappe but may also lose Rafael Leao in the same saga.
Salah could depart Liverpool at the end of the season, with Saudi Arabian clubs still pursuing a blockbuster transfer. Anfield chiefs rejected a record-breaking £215m offer from Al-Ittihad in August.
Come the summer, Salah will have just a year remaining on his contract. That will hand the winger more power in deciding his immediate future.
Liverpool have been linked with several replacements for the Egyptian. PSG’s Mbappe and AC Milan’s Leao are among the wide men suggested as possible signings should Salah depart Anfield ahead of the 2024-25 season.
However, ESPN report that Leao could be lined up by PSG to replace Mbappe, who seems destined to join Real Madrid over Liverpool. Leao has caught the attention of some of Europe’s wealthiest clubs with his performances in Italy, including helping Milan to the Champions League semi-final last season.
The report claims that PSG have lined up the Portugal international as their top target to replace Mbappe. It is expected that Mbappe will next week announce his intention to move to Madrid as a free agent in the summer.
A key part of Mbappe’s negotiations with Madrid will involve being allowed to play for France at a home Olympic Games this year. The 2024-25 La Liga season begins a week after the closing ceremony in Paris.
Liverpool will be forced to look elsewhere to find their replacement for Salah. The 31-year-old will be a difficult figure to replace, having enjoyed an excellent season so far.
He has scored 18 goals and provided nine assists in 27 appearances across all competitions, proving that Liverpool still rely on the star who has been so key to their success under Jurgen Klopp. With Klopp leaving in the summer, it will fall to the new head coach to replace Salah should the Anfield hero depart, too.
Klopp will make do without Salah for at least the next few weeks. The former Roma man suffered a hamstring injury at the Africa Cup of Nations before immediately returning to Merseyside for treatment. It is unclear what timeframe has been put on his recovery.
