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Former Liverpool defender Markus Babbel has slammed "egotistical" Mohamed Salah for his recent public criticism of the club.
The 2001 treble winner believes Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise would be the perfect replacement for the Reds should Salah depart midway through his ninth campaign on Merseyside next month.
Salah found himself benched for three consecutive matches under Arne Slot before last week's Champions League clash with Inter, and was subsequently omitted from the squad after claiming he had been "thrown under the bus" by the club during their challenging period as Premier League champions. Following his exclusion from the travelling party to Italy for Tuesday's 1-0 triumph over Inter, Salah engaged in clear-the-air discussions with head coach Slot on Friday
He returned as a first-half substitute on Saturday as the Reds defeated Brighton 2-0 to maintain their five-match unbeaten streak across all competitions.
Salah's candid interview has dominated football headlines since it surfaced at Elland Road following the 3-3 stalemate with Leeds, and Babbel, who made 60 appearances as Gerard Houllier's side claimed the FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup in 2001, suspects the Egyptian may now push for a January departure, reports the Liverpool Echo.
"I think Mohamed Salah may still leave Liverpool in January," Babbel told Poker Scout. "This is what I don't understand with Salah – when Liverpool was struggling, you never heard a word from him and he was never speaking about the team, but now something has happened with him personally, he's spoken out to the media.
"This is what I don't like about him. He's a fantastic player and a legend of Liverpool, but he's very egotistical. He's not thinking about the team or the club – he's just thinking about himself.
"This is not what Liverpool are about, and that's the reason why I think he will leave the club."
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Babbel, whose Anfield career was affected by a diagnosis of Guillan-Barre Syndrome, which impacts the nervous system, believes Bayern star Olise would be the ideal replacement for Salah, should the legendary forward depart.
Babbel continued: "Michael Olise would be my dream signing for Liverpool if Mohamed Salah left in January.
"He's by far the best player in the Bundesliga – he's been unbelievable for Bayern Munich this season.
"Liverpool's style of play would be a perfect fit for him and he would suit that position on the right wing very well.
"I don't see Bayern selling him at all because they're so happy with him, but if something were to happen, then Olise would be a brilliant signing."
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