Liverpool are planning for the future
Liverpool have a compiled shortlist of transfer targets to replace Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah should the pair leave, according to reports.
Mane and Salah both have one year remaining on their contracts, meaning this summer is the club’s final chance to sell them or risk losing them for nothing.
Both have been linked with a move away from the club.
Liverpool’s transfer shortlist for Mane and Salah replacements.
Salah has said that he plans to remain at Anfield next season, which would leave him open to continue negotiations about a new contract with Liverpool, or walk away on a free transfer in June 2023.
Mane, however, reportedly wants to leave Liverpool this summer, and Bayern Munich are keeping tabs on the forward. The German club are said to be prepared to pay €30m for Mane, but the Reds want a fee closer to €50m.
The task of replacing the pair will be extremely difficult for Liverpool, as Mane and Salah have scored 276 goals combined for the club.
Liverpool transfer shortlist.
Liverpool, however, have been one of the world’s best-run football clubs in recent years, with the Reds regularly making shrewd signings and selling players at a profit.
So, it is no surprise that the club have identified potential transfer targets if Salah and Mane leave.
According to The Athletic, Liverpool are interested in Jarrod Bowen of West Ham United and Lille forward Jonathan David.
Bowen, who has just received his first England call-up, has caught the eye thanks to his performances for West Ham.
The winger, 25, scored 18 goals in 51 appearances for West Ham last season. Bowen joined the Hammers from Hull City in January 2019 for a fee of £18m.
Meanwhile, Liverpool are also said to be interested in Lille’s David. The Canadian forward, 22, has scored 32 goals in 96 games for Lille after joining them from the Belgian side Gent in 2020 for €30m.
David has scored 20 goals in 30 appearances for Canada and helped the nation qualify for the 2022 World Cup.
Liverpool’s transfer plans.
It seems inevitable that Liverpool will continue to freshen up their squad, regardless of whether Mane and Salah remain at the club beyond next season.
The average age of Liverpool’s starting most-used starting XI last season was 27.1. Trent Alexander-Arnold (23), Diogo Jota (25) and Andy Robertson (27) were the only three players in the lineup under the age of 28.
Liverpool signed Luis Diaz, 25, in January and will sign Fabio Carvalho, 19, from Fulham on a free transfer in the summer.
The Reds are also said to be keeping tabs on Jude Bellingham. But they accept that it will be difficult to sign the 18-year-old midfielder from Borussia Dortmund this summer, as the German club already lost Erling Haaland to Manchester City.
