8 replacements Liverpool can target after Mohamed Salah suddenly announces he will leave

Liverpool will target a variety of different forwards, including the likes of Yan Diomande and Anthony Gordon, as the club looks to replace the soon-to-be-leaving Mohamed Salah

Newcastle forward Anthony Gordon could emerge as a key transfer target for Liverpool in the near future(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes and the rest of the technical staff were likely already planning on signing a forward replacement this summer.

With Mohamed Salah announcing his end-of-season departure from the Reds with a heartfelt video, the need for a new player is heightened: the Egyptian has held down a starting spot on the right wing for the greater part of a decade.

Typically, Liverpool targets younger players — think forwards Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo — with the hopes of selling them on again for further profit. Will the Reds follow the same model when finding Salah's replacement?

Here are eight players that Liverpool.com thinks the Reds could and should target to replace the Egyptian King, ranked from most likely to least likely.

Yan Diomande, RB Leipzig — The 19-year-old was playing high-school soccer in the United States two-years ago but is now one of the most in-demand wingers in Europe. The skilled dribbler is a right-footed right-winger who stays wide, making him not quite a like-for-like replacement for Salah.

However, with 16 league goal involvements in under 2,000 minutes after being purchased for €20 million ($23M) for Leganes. While his fee could rise to near £86 million ($115M), it will be well worth it — especially considering that his wages will be substantially less than Salah's.

Yan Diomande is already one of the best players in the Bundesliga at age 19(Image: Getty Images)

Anthony Gordon, Newcastle — A childhood Liverpool fan, a big sticking point against a Gordon transfer is that his preference is to play on the left wing.... or even through the middle. Still, the mazy England international could provide a vital injection of youth in the Reds front-line for around £75 million ($100M), and he might be available with the Magpies unlikely to offer European football next season.

Christian Pulisic, AC Milan — Another veteran option, the 27-year-old Pulisic has already proven himself in the world's biggest leagues: he was one of Chelsea's best players during the club's 2021 Champions League run. Amid rumblings of frustration with Milan co-star Rafael Leao, the 20 league goal/assist-man could be available.

Tottenham's looming relegation could open the door for a bargin transfer for Mohammed Kudus(Image: Getty Images)

Mohamed Kudus, Tottenham Hotspur — Yes, the 25-year-old Kudus moved to Tottenham last summer from West Ham for around £55 million ($74.7M) just last summer. But if Spurs go down, Liverpool can get a player they were linked to all the way back in his Ajax days. He's a left-footed right-winger who likes to take on defenders — he profiles as a strong like-for-like replacement.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham — Signing Bowen is contingent on West Ham going on (the club currently sits in the relegation places). The 29-year-old has averaged over 10 Premier League goals a season for the last half-decade, and he could realistically walk into Salah's void on the right wing for a fee of around £50 million ($66.9M) — for a few seasons, at least — as a band-aid.

Bradley Barcola/Desire Doue, PSG — The PSG wingers — aged 23 and 20, respectively — are simply two talented wingers that may be available this summer. Both are right-footed, and both will cost a fortune. But the Reds saw last year in the Champions League just how talented the Parisian pair are, and will have the honor of doing so again in the upcoming quarterfinal.

Michael Olise, Bayern Munich — Without question, the 24-year-old Olise would be the perfect signing. The left-footed right-winger might be the best playmaker in the world: he already has 41 assists in less than two seasons with Bayern Munich.

Olise would cost a near-world-record fee and demand a historic contract. Yet somehow, a transfer might still be worth it.