Joe Cole names ideal Mohamed Salah replacement at Liverpool amid Saudi interest

Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah's days at Anfield could be numbered, with increasing speculation that he will leave the club this summer amid interest from Saudi Arabia

Joe Cole feels Jarrod Bowen would make an excellent replacement for Mohamed Salah at Liverpool(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)

Joe Cole believes West Ham forward Jarrod Bowen could make an excellent summer signing for Liverpool if the Hammers are relegated.

Bowen has been a shining light in a West Ham team that has severely underwhelmed this season. It sits 18th in the table, six points adrift of safety, and faces the real possibility of dropping to the second tier for the first time in 15 years.

Few can imagine the England international remaining at the London Stadium if West Ham is relegated. Bowen would not be short of admirers either, and despite the team’s struggles, he has still managed to contribute eight Premier League goals this term.

A tricky, left-footed winger, Cole believes he would make an excellent replacement for Mohamed Salah if he departs Liverpool this summer.

“Jarrod is a wonderful footballer, a great character and a hero at West Ham. His name will stand shoulder to shoulder with all the great players that have played for the club,” the ex-Liverpool and West Ham midfielder told Paddy Power.

“He’s loved at the club and he deserves, at the peak of his career, to win silverware and fight at the top level.

Despite West Ham's issues this season, Jarrod Bowen has continued to impress(Image: 2026 CameraSport)

“If West Ham were to get relegated, it won’t be anything to do with what Jarrod Bowen has done; he’s been a stalwart for the club. I think he’ll walk away and the majority of the fans will accept that.

“Who does he suit? Obviously, Liverpool, that slot [out wide] might come into play if Mo Salah leaves. He can go and play anywhere.”

Salah has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia this summer, and there is a growing sense around Anfield that his days in red may be numbered.

Liverpool could be on the lookout for a new winger this summer(Image: Getty Images)

“I think most West Ham fans will agree that the lad deserves to go to a team that’s going to match his ambitions and give him the opportunity to play in the Champions League and show the world what he can do,” Cole continued.

“They’re not out of it just yet, though. If they stay up, he still needs to sit down with the owners and say ‘right, what are we?’. He needs a little bit of that swagger in him now. He’s an England player. He’s delivered.

“Whatever happens at the end of this season, he should be knocking on the owners’ door and be saying, 'What’s the plan? Here’s my ambitions, are you going to match it?'

“It’s you speaking to the club, not the club speaking to you. And that’s not arrogant, because you have a finite career as a footballer and you have to squeeze as much out of it as you can. It’ll be an interesting summer for Jarrod one way or another.”