Arne Slot has been told to set his sights on Real Madrid's Rodrygo and Southampton star Tyler Dibling should Mohamed Salah leave Liverpool.
Although the Reds are running under new boss Slot and alone at the top of the Premier League and Champions League tables, three first-team stars will see their current contracts expire in 2025, including the top side's top scorer Salah.
Salah's admission of 'more in than out' after clashing against Saints last month sparked panic. However, should disaster strike Merseyside and the Egyptian icon herald the end of his glittering career at Anfield, a return to the south coast with checkbook in hand is advised.
Danny Murphy, who has made almost 250 appearances for Liverpool, has theorized about Salah's impending departure, with Southampton youngster Dibling and Los Blancos' Brazilian winger Rodrygo as two targets.
“I think Mohamed Salah will stay at Liverpool,” Murphy told BetBrain. “I think Liverpool will get it done, even if it means giving him just one more year. I just don't think they will let him go. The pressure from the fans will be too much.
“However, if he were to leave, I think Rodrygo would be an excellent replacement if Liverpool could land him from Real Madrid.
“He's a phenomenal young player and plays as well on the right as anyone at the moment. He is a huge goal threat and would make up for the numbers Liverpool would lose if Salah were to leave.”
The Reds this month linked up with a move for the forward, believed to fetch a fee in the region of £100 million.
Rodrygo arrived in the Spanish capital in 2019 and the 23-year-old has scored a number of crucial goals on his way to three La Liga titles and a pair of Champions League crowns. Still, a deal for the Brazilian could be complicated given his price tag, so Murphy offered a cheaper option.
“If you alternatively look at someone young and left-footed who could develop over the next five years and occupy that right side in the same way as Salah, then I wouldn't look further than Southampton's Tyler Dibling,” Murphy added.
Dibling was a bright light in an otherwise dark start to the Saints' season, with the 18-year-old looking threatening every time he touched the ball.
“I think he looks like someone who will be a phenomenal talent in the future. He has a great left foot, can beat people, scores goals and you can easily coach him and mold him into the player you want,” Murphy concluded. “Either of these two would be fantastic replacements.”
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