Liverpool
As Liverpool FC prepare to find an attacking replacement for Mohamed Salah they currently have đđ˘đ¨đĽ players on their shortlist:
Liverpool draft spectacular four-man Salah replacement list as Saudi move approved
Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah, Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz
Liverpool have four names in mind to replace Mohamed Salah who could be sold to the Saudi Pro League in 2026, while a confirmed Reds target is ready to take the ânext stepâ in his career with a transfer as early as next month.
Salah is high on Liverpoolâs list of greatest ever players, but all good things must come to an end. The 33-year-old is enduring the worst season of his glittering Reds career to date and will turn 34 next summer.
At that point, Salah will have one year left on his contract and a long-rumoured sale to Saudi Arabia could finally come to fruition.
However, Liverpool will only sanction a sale once a worthy heir has been signed, or at the very least lined upâŚ
Liverpoolâs four Salah replacements
German outlet BILD brought news of who Liverpool believe can fill the void left by Salah on the right wing.
As youâd expect given where that report has come from, one of the targets was from Germany.
Bayern Munichâs Michael Olise was named in the piece, though it was also stressed heâd be the hardest of the quartet to sign.
The others on Liverpoolâs radar, according to BILD, are Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Kenan Yildiz (Juventus) and Iliman Ndiaye (Everton).
When the Ndiaye to Liverpool speculation ramped up over the past week or so, sources informed TEAMtalk that Everton would make it as difficult as possible for Liverpool to sign the attacker.
Rodrygo would perhaps be the easiest to sign amid his unhappiness at his lack of starts under new Real boss, Xabi Alonso. Liverpool are asking to be kept informed on the Brazilianâs deteriorating situation at the Bernabeu.
Yildiz is currently in a contract stand-off with Juventus, though weâre told the expectation is the forward will eventually pen fresh terms in Turin.
ICYMI:Â Eight reasons why Mo Salahâs levels have dropped
Salah to Saudi in 2026?
According to The Telegraph, that long-anticipated move could finally occur at seasonâs end.
They declared Saudi Arabia âwill fund Mohamed Salah moveâ, and the fact Salah is no longer a guaranteed starter at Anfield (he was benched for the third game in a row on Saturday) suggests the Egyptian might be willing to bring his career at Liverpool to a close.
Furthermore, Salah has publicly admitted he has a healthy relationship with key SPL officials, and noted he would be in Saudi Arabia already if he hadnât signed a two-year extension with Liverpool earlier in 2025.
âMy relations with SPL officials are very good, we talked a lot, and the negotiations were serious,â he previously told Egyptian broadcaster ON Sport.
âIt was a good opportunity to me, if I hadnât renewed with Liverpool it would have happened.â
READ MORE:Â Did FSG blunder by signing Liverpool legends Salah, Van Dijk to new contracts?
Antoine Semenyoâs next step
One winger on Liverpoolâs radar who wasnât mentioned as a potential Salah replacement by BILD is Bournemouthâs Antoine Semenyo.
The Reds hold confirmed interest in the 25-year-old who is equally effective on either flank.
And speaking to The Athletic, Semenyoâs national team coach with Ghana, Otto Addo, insisted Semenyo is ready to take the next step in his career.
âHe has done very well at Bournemouth, but with all the respect for Bournemouth and what theyâre doing, surely it is natural for him to take the next step,â said Addo.
Semenyo can be signed for ÂŁ65m (ÂŁ60m plus ÂŁ5m in add-ons) via a release clause that is active in the first part of the January window.
But while Liverpool are huge admirers of Semenyo, The Times recently claimed the Reds believe Manchester City will win the race.
That report came in part via Paul Joyce, who is perhaps the most trusted and reliable journalists when it comes to Liverpool stories.
Liverpool
Yes â there are reports linking Liverpool with Sven Botman as a possible summer transfer target, particularly if they need replacements in central defence. Hereâs the latest news
đ´ Liverpool & Botman Link
Liverpool are said to be considering a bid for Newcastle United defender Sven Botman ahead of the summer 2026 transfer window. The idea being mooted in some outlets is that Botman could add experience and help mentor younger defenders (e.g., Jeremy Jacquet) if he were to move to Anfield. ďż˝
TEAMtalk +1
Liverpoolâs interest appears to be part of a broader plan to strengthen centre-back options, especially with Ibrahima KonatĂŠâs contract situation unresolved and the potential of him leaving as a free agent. ďż˝
Yardbarker +1
đ KonatĂŠ & Defensive Plans
Ibrahima KonatĂŠâs contract at Liverpool is due to expire this summer, and while there have been negotiations, no new deal has been agreed yet â meaning he could leave on a free transfer if he doesnât sign an extension. ďż˝
Anfield Watch
This has increased the likelihood that Liverpool must plan for defensive reinforcements â something that could put Botman on their radar along with other centre-back targets. ďż˝
Yardbarker
đ Newcastleâs Position
Botman recently signed a new long-term contract with Newcastle until 2030, which could make a move more expensive or complicated. ďż˝
Yahoo Sports
Still, reports suggest that Newcastle might struggle to keep players or resist offers if they fail to qualify for the Champions League, as missing out on European football often influences player decisions and club finances. ďż˝
Sports Boom
đ° Conflicting Coverage
Some outlets recently claimed that Liverpoolâs interest has cooled, and the club may prioritise other defensive targets instead. ďż˝
Sports Mole
However, others still list Botman among players Liverpool are monitoring ahead of next summer. ďż˝
Sports Boom
đ§ Bottom Line
âď¸ Botman remains a possible summer target for Liverpool if KonatĂŠ leaves.
âď¸ Newcastleâs Champions League qualification (or lack thereof) could impact whether theyâre willing to sell or if Botman himself is open to departing.
âď¸ His recent contract extension complicates a move, but it doesnât rule out a transfer if a suitable offer arrives.
Would you like a projected likelihood analysis based on his contract + Newcastleâs season performance?
Liverpool
HOW ARE LIVERPOOL NOT WINNING THIS GAME…. Florian Wirtz’s shot is tame and Guehi blocks it out for a corner kick
HOW are Liverpool not ahead here?! đ¤
That moment summed it all up.
The Wirtz chance â what actually went wrong
Florian Wirtz did everything right up to the final action. The space opened on the edge of the box, Liverpool moved the ball quickly, and the shooting lane was there. But the finish? Way too tame.
Instead of whipping it across the keeper or drilling it low into the corner, Wirtz opts for placement without power. At this level, thatâs basically an invitation for defenders to recover.
Credit where itâs due: Guehi đ
Marc Guehi reads it early.
He doesnât dive in
He holds his line
He closes the angle
By the time Wirtz shoots, Guehi is already set, making himself big and getting the block in. Itâs excellent defending, but it only becomes possible because the shot lacks conviction.
The bigger Liverpool problem
This isnât an isolated incident â itâs a pattern in the game:
Dominance without ruthlessness
Good build-up, poor end product
Too many extra touches in the box
Liverpool are getting into the right areas but playing like a team waiting for the perfect goal instead of forcing the issue.
Why Liverpool arenât winning (yet)
No killer instinct in front of goal
Shots either blocked or too close to defenders
Final decisions a half-second late
Opposition defenders growing in confidence with every missed chance
Corner kick or not, that shouldâve tested the keeper far more.
If this keeps up, itâs the kind of game where Liverpool dominate the stats⌠and still drop points. One moment of real quality â or one defensive mistake â is all thatâs missing.
Football can be cruel like that. đŹâ˝
Want this turned into a match report or live commentary-style thread?
Liverpool
The contract and paperwork are already in place for Liverpool to welcome back Jarell Quansah, who left Merseyside to join Bayer Leverkusen last summer, to help fill out the Redsâ thin defensive ranks
Yes â that claim lines up with multiple transfer-news reports: Liverpool could re-sign 23-year-old England centre-back Jarell Quansah from Bayer Leverkusen in future, thanks to a buy-back clause in the deal that sent him to Germany â but not immediately next season.
đ Whatâs Happening with Quansah and Liverpool
Quansah moved from Liverpool to Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2025 for a reported fee around ÂŁ30m-ÂŁ35m (plus add-ons), joining the Bundesliga side on a long-term contract.
As part of that transfer, Liverpool inserted a buy-back clause allowing the club to re-sign him in the future for a pre-agreed fee.
footballtransfers.com
However, the clause cannot be activated until the summer of 2027 at the earliest.
TEAM
Reports suggest the buy-back figure could be around ÂŁ50m-ÂŁ60m (with potential add-ons increasing the fee), although exact numbers vary across sources.
Sports Mole +1
There are also indications Liverpool have pre-agreed personal terms with Quansah should they trigger the buy-back, smoothing the path for a return.
TEAMtalk
đ§ Context for the Move
Quansah was a Liverpool academy graduate and made senior appearances before leaving, but opted for more first-team football in Germany.
Football Today
With his development in the Bundesliga and Liverpoolâs evolving defensive needs, the idea of bringing him back â especially given future departures or ageing defenders â is being discussed in transfer circles.
TEAMtalk
Bottom line: the Football Insider claim that Liverpool could re-sign Quansah later isnât unfounded â there is a buy-back clause â but any switch is realistically targeted for 2027 or beyond, not next summer.
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