Liverpool accelerate move for Mohamed Salah replacement: report

Liverpool have identified a potential replacement for the goals offered by Mohamed Salah.

The Reds’ third all-time highest scorer announced last week that he will leave the club at the end of this season, despite having a year left to run on his deal signed last summer.

While the Egypt international has been nowhere near his best this term, he has still managed to record 10 goals and nine assists in all competitions so far.

Liverpool battle Newcastle United for Mohamed Salah replacement

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Those numbers are despite the 33-year-old going away to the Africa Cup of Nations midseason, and also facing selection obstacles under Arne Slot.

Last season, he scored 29 goals and provided 18 assists, almost single-handedly dragging Liverpool to the title – despite his quieter campaign this time around, there is no doubt he needs replacing.

According to Correio da Manha, as relayed by Sport Witness, the Reds are eyeing striker Luis Suarez (not that one) from Sporting as a potential replacement.

While the 28-year-old is a central striker, rather than a wide forward like Salah, the plan appears to be more about replacing the output rather than the positional work.

And Suarez certainly boasts output: in 25 Liga Portugal games so far this season, he’s scored 24 goals and provided four assists.

Liverpool aren’t the only side to catch wind, with Newcastle United said to be ready to battle for the signature, a war with plenty of bad feeling after the Merseyside club stole Hugo Ekitike from under the Magpies’ nose last summer.

Sporting plan to wait until after the World Cup to deal with offers, with Suarez under contract until 2030 with a €80m release clause.

In FourFourTwo’s opinion, while Suarez’s numbers are impressive, there is a cautionary tale with Viktor Gyokeres at Arsenal.

The Swede has contributed a decent number of goals in his first season, but he’s nowhere near the incredible 54 goals he managed to put away for Sporting the campaign prior.

When looking at Suarez, it must be factored in that he’s playing for one of the country’s best teams, in what is not an especially strong division outside of the top few clubs.

Suarez is valued at €28m, according to Transfermarkt.