Liverpool have reportedly identified Bayern Munich's Leroy Sane as Mohamed Salah's replacement after the Egyptian confirmed this would be his last season at Anfield as things stand.
Salah has arguably been the best player in the Premier League this season considering he has scored 17 times and produced 13 assists in the top flight, more than any other player in both categories.
His contributions have helped fire his side to first place in the league, and with a game against Manchester United to come on Sunday afternoon, the winger will be confident of adding to his tallies against Ruben Amorim's struggling Red Devils.
However, boss Arne Slot will no doubt be concerned that his talisman has publicly aired his frustration at the pace of contract negotiations, suggesting that he is currently more likely to leave the club for free in the summer rather than renew terms.
Fichajes report that the Reds will look to sign Bayern forward Sane, who is also out of contract in the summer and is free to talk to clubs abroad about a potential summer move.
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Does Sane make sense as a Salah replacement?
The fact that the 28-year-old winger has considerable experience already of playing in the Premier League for Manchester City should not be overlooked, especially as other forwards like Savinho and Antony have struggled to adapt to the intensity of the division after moving to England.
Sane is also comfortable operating on both the left and right side of attack, so he could provide Slot with extra tactical flexibility during matches.
The German has made 11 appearances for his club this season in the Bundesliga - starting five times - and has scored three times and produced one assist in that period.
Last season, the forward was particularly creative considering he registered 11 assists in the German top flight, and he also scored eight goals during that campaign.
Sane is unlikely to come in as a long-term replacement for Salah, especially as the Bayern winger is set to turn 29 this month, but he would be a quality addition to Slot's arsenal.
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Liverpool should do all they can to extend Salah's contract
Though Sane has been strong in the final third in the past seasons, his output still ultimately falls far short of what Salah has produced for Liverpool.
The Egyptian's tally of 30 goal contributions in the Premier League in 2024-25 is already more than Sane has managed in a full league season in his career to date.
Few players in world football can claim to be as impactful in the final third as Salah, and losing him for free in the summer would undoubtedly be a massive blow for Slot.
Forwards like Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz have stepped up to the plate in recent weeks, with the pair producing 11 and 12 goals respectively this season, but it is fair to say that the Reds would not have such a commanding lead in the title race if not for Salah's contributions.
Lewis Nolan
