Liverpool urged to sign £39.5m ‘match winner’ from Real Madrid, described as ‘a wonderful talent,’ if Mo Salah departs

Danny Murphy has identified the Real Madrid forward Liverpool manager Arne Slot should target in the summer of 2025 if Mohamed Salah departs at the season’s end, also suggesting three Premier League players who could potentially fill his shoes.

Salah is considered one of the greatest players in history and a Liverpool legend. Over his time with the club, the Egyptian forward has become a prolific goal scorer, netting 232 goals in 379 appearances. He has also provided 105 assists and helped Liverpool win both the Premier League and the Champions League.

Liverpool supporters cherish Salah and would like him to extend his stay, but with his current contract expiring at the season’s close, there is mounting uncertainty about his future at Anfield.

TEAMtalk reports that clubs in the Saudi Pro League are interested in acquiring Salah as a free agent in the summer of 2025, with Paris Saint-Germain also pursuing the former Chelsea player, reportedly eager to convince him to join their ranks.

Liverpool is likely to consider potential replacements for Salah, and former Anfield star Murphy has recommended that the Reds pursue Real Madrid winger Rodrygo in the summer of 2025.

Murphy is a big admirer of the 24-year-old Brazilian forward, who has won La Liga three times and the Champions League twice with Madrid since his £39.5m transfer to the Santiago Bernabeu in 2019.

When asked which European players would be ideal replacements for Salah, Murphy told OLBG: “If Liverpool wanted one player to replace Mohamed Salah, the obvious choice for me would be Rodrygo from Real Madrid. I think he’s a wonderful talent.

“I don’t know what his contract situation is in Madrid, but I think of him because we’ve seen him play at the highest level and win Champions Leagues in the last couple of years.

“His numbers aren’t like Salah’s, but he’s a match winner. He can beat people, he’s quick, he’s playing in an environment where he’s under huge pressure every week and dealing with it.

“Additionally, they’ve got so many talented players at Real Madrid that maybe there is room for one of them to leave. So that would be the obvious standout for me.”

West Ham and Southampton stars also named as potential Salah replacements

Murphy also has other players in mind who could replace Salah if he leaves Liverpool. The former midfielder highlighted West Ham United’s Jarrod Bowen and Southampton’s young talent Tyler Dibling as two players who could step in, along with Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo as a potential option.

When asked which Premier League players could best fill the void left by Salah, Murphy said: “It will take more than one player to replace the void left by Mohamed Salah, and for me there are two obvious ones, Antoine Semenyo and Jarrod Bowen.

“Semenyo I like as a player but might not quite be ready yet, he still needs time to grow, whereas Bowen is tried and tested and is nearly always West Ham’s best player when he is fit.

“He is a super talent but his age profile might be pushing it for Liverpool. If Liverpool could bring in both Bowen and Tyler Dibling from Southampton, I think that would be brilliant.

“A young, super-talent, full of confidence, plays on that right side, comes in on his left foot, beats people. I think that those two could help Liverpool if Salah leaves. If he left tomorrow and Liverpool got Bowen and Dibling, that would be brilliant.”