Liverpool have reportedly been dealt a serious blow in the pursuit of a Mohamed Salah replacement given the green light by Arne Slot.
As things stand, Salah will be able to leave the Reds as a free agent when his contract expires in the summer of 2025, although an exit this summer is not believed to be on the cards at this moment in time.
Despite uncertainty over his future due to Jurgen Klopp's exit, Salah has apparently decided to stay on and help oversee the rebuild under Slot, and talks over a new deal are now a priority.
However, should Liverpool's camp give no indication that the 32-year-old is prepared to sign a new deal, a summer exit may be the best move for all parties lest Liverpool risk one of their all-time greats leaving for nothing.
While Ben Doak and Kaide Gordon have been heralded as stars of the future, Liverpool have apparently taken a liking to PSV Eindhoven's Johan Bakayoko as an immediate solution to the Salah conundrum.
![Belgium's Johan Bakayoko pictured in June 2024 [IMAGO]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/26/johan-bakayoko.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Belgium's Johan Bakayoko pictured in June 2024 [IMAGO]")
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Arsenal 'make enquiry' over Bakayoko signing
Slot knows the 21-year-old well from his time in the Eredivisie, and it has been claimed that the Feyenoord boss has given his seal of approval to a summer swoop regardless of Salah's future.
However, according to DH Net, Liverpool are now facing serious competition from Arsenal, who have jumped to the head of the queue for Bakayoko's signature.
The Gunners have reportedly made an enquiry to their Dutch counterparts over a deal for the winger, who is currently away with the Belgian team at Euro 2024, coming off the bench in their opening defeat to Slovakia.
Bakayoko's future is not expected to be resolved until Belgium's run at the Euros ends, which could be on Wednesday evening, as the Red Devils conclude Group E - where all four sides are on three points - against Ukraine.
The former Anderlecht youth prospect is only contracted to PSV for another two years, and even though his deal apparently includes a release clause of around €50m (£42.2m), the Dutch side would reportedly be happy to let him go for less.
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Bakayoko scored 14 goals and set up 14 more in 48 matches for PSV last season, taking his total for the Eredivisie powerhouses to 21 goals and 19 assists in 85 appearances since graduating from their academy ranks.
Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig have also been tipped to move for the 21-year-old, who also has one goal and two assists in 13 appearances for his nation.
Bakayoko arrival could trigger home-grown exit
Bakayoko's prospective signing at Arsenal would see the PSV man immediately compete with and cover for Bukayo Saka on the right-wing, where the England international is short of natural replacements.
One of them - Reiss Nelson - is expected to be on the move this summer, having been largely frozen out after signing a new deal last year, and a multitude of Premier League clubs are said to have taken an interest.
In addition, Fabio Vieira has supposedly not been impressing Mikel Arteta enough in training, and a loan exit for the Portuguese has not been ruled out.
Ben Knapton
