Liverpool will have a big task to replace Mo Salah when he leaves Anfield but former forward feels Jurgen Klopp may already have one candidate in his ranks to do the job
There will come a time when Mo Salah is no longer seen at Anfield, and it is a moment for which Liverpool can never fully be ready. Many Reds fans may not want to face this day.
Due to an AFCON obligation, the Egyptian forward is presently sidelined with a hamstring injury, marking an unusual absence for Jurgen Klopp’s team. With his talent and tenacity, he has made 332 appearances with 204 goals and 88 assists, so there hasn’t been much excuses for him.
Not too long ago, though, his contract was about to expire before the Saudi Pro League looked to entice him, so it felt possible that he might leave. Liverpool rejected a rumoured £150 million deal from Al-Ittihad.
Salah has 18 months left on his contract once more. The winger, who is already 31 years old, will put the player and the team to the test. Although the former star of Chelsea and Roma hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down, there will come a time when the parties part ways.
According to rumours, Saudi Pro League clubs are reportedly targeting Salah, Son Heung-min, and Kevin De Bruyne, suggesting that the Middle East may try to force the split once more. Clubs could be able to access a warchest worth £2 billion.
Michael Owen, though, thinks his old team would not need to worry too much because they already have someone who can step up to replace Salah in the leadership role. Former England international Darwin Nunez has the potential to be a formidable player in the Premier League.
“Núñez is a player that has divided opinion,” he stated. He’s really raw in some of his plays, in my opinion, but he’s also very good in other of them.
“It’s obvious that [Mohamed] Salah won’t be with Liverpool forever, so someone will need to step up or they’ll need to find a replacement who can try to replace his goals,” the statement reads.
I envisage Núñez being a formidable force in the Premier League; he is perhaps the only player on the club with the scope to accomplish that. Though I still believe he has room to grow and isn’t quite the whole package, he does things that simply astound me.
“He has so much ability, he’s so quick, so direct, so strong—if he could just work on a few things, he could be the real deal.”
