Liverpool may reportedly consider an approach for Atletico Madrid's Joao Felix if Mohamed Salah leaves the club before the end of the transfer window.
Despite affirmations from Salah's agent and Jurgen Klopp that the 31-year-old is going nowhere, a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia in the coming days is still being mooted.
Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad are fighting tooth and nail to bring Salah to the Middle East, but Klopp has insisted that any offer would be immediately rejected.
However, journalist Rudy Galetti claims that the Egypt international is keen to take on a new challenge in Saudi Arabia, and an offer worth more than £79.5m has been tabled for his services.
While Liverpool remain unwavering in their position that Salah is not for sale, the Reds could enter the market for a last-minute replacement if Al-Ittihad are able to pull off an audacious deal for the ex-Chelsea man.
© Reuters
According to FootballTransfers, Atletico Madrid outcast Felix has emerged as a potential successor to Salah, as the Portuguese prepares to end his underwhelming stint at the Wanda Metropolitano.
The former Benfica starlet allegedly fell out with head coach Diego Simeone last season, culminating in his temporary move to Chelsea on loan for the second half of the 2022-23 season.
Despite showing a few flashes of his attacking quality, Felix came up with just four goals from 20 games in a Chelsea shirt as the Blues laboured to a disappointing 12th-placed Premier League finish.
The 23-year-old extended his Rojiblancos contract until 2027 before departing for Stamford Bridge, but his relationship with Simeone is thought to be irrevocable, and he is known to be pining for a move elsewhere.
A switch to Barcelona is supposedly Felix's dream, and the attacker has also rejected interest from clubs in the Saudi Pro League, and the Blaugrana have been tipped to bring the 23-year-old to Camp Nou as a replacement for Ousmane Dembele.
© Reuters
However, talks over a deal have not let to an agreement between the two clubs, and Liverpool could offer Felix an alternative escape route from the Spanish capital.
Atletico spent a whopping £108.1m to bring Felix to the club from Benfica in 2019, and the attacker has come up with a respectable 34 goals and 18 assists in 131 matches for the club since.
The 23-year-old is yet to earn any minutes under Simeone this season, though, and he was not even in the squad for last weekend's goalless draw with Real Betis in La Liga.
Manchester United have also been credited with an interest in Felix, but the Red Devils are focusing on signing a new left-back following a serious injury to Luke Shaw.
Ben Knapton
