David Ornstein has disclosed the release clause for a possible Salah replacement 

With many of their best players’ futures up in the air, Liverpool may be in for a summer transfer shake-up.

Mohamed Salah is the most important of them; his contract expires in 2025, and the club’s future plans are unknown.

Salah is reportedly looking for a new deal at Liverpool, but Richard Hughes, the new sporting director, would be open to accepting a huge offer from Al-Ittihad or any other interested parties.

With Salah’s recent lacklustre performance and impending 32nd birthday this summer, there have been discussions over what the Merseyside team should do with their 210-goal star.

Salah is reportedly looking for a new deal at Liverpool, but Richard Hughes, the new sporting director, would be open to accepting a huge offer from Al-Ittihad or any other interested parties.

With Salah’s recent lacklustre performance and impending 32nd birthday this summer, there have been discussions over what the Merseyside team should do with their 210-goal star.

A replacement forward will need to be signed if the new Anfield management decides to cash in on Salah. The forward for West Ham United, Muhammad Kudus, is one of the names being considered for a move to Liverpool.

A few weeks ago, Spanish publication Fichajes disclosed that Liverpool was keeping an eye on the Ghanaian international as they developed their plans for the player’s post-Jurgen Klopp future.

Furthermore, Kudus’s West Ham contract has a buyout clause, which means that any interested teams now know the cost to sign the 23-year-old, according to reputable transfer journalist David Ornstein.

However, the details of that release clause are unknown, and it’s probably not going to be inexpensive.

“If those guys [Kudus and Lucas Paqueta] have their hearts set on a move away, and the suitable offers arrive, then you suspect some movement could take place,” Ornstein said on the Athletic FC Podcast.

“We know that Manchester City is still interested in Lucas Paqueta, but I’m not saying it will.

“There is also a release clause with regard to Kudus. Having recently joined the club, he has performed really well thus far, and I have a feeling he may want to extend his stay. However, we’re not sure; before he joined West Ham, he was shown interest from a number of clubs.

“I believe we covered teams like Brighton and Arsenal. He has reportedly long been admired by Manchester United in addition to many others. Chelsea was yet another.

After spending over £38 million to join the Hammers from Ajax last summer, Kudus has had a respectable debut season in England despite challenging conditions at the London Stadium. Thirty Premier League games included seven of his seventeen goals and five assists across all competitions.

One of his goals, a magnificent solo effort against Freiburg in the Europa League round of 16, has been referred to as a “wonder goal.”

EX-RED THINKS KUDUS CAN TAKE THE PLACE OF SALAH

Before making an unexpected transfer to West Ham, the Ghanaian striker developed a strong reputation in Amsterdam, scoring 27 goals in 87 games for Ajax. Being a flexible left-footer, he can play multiple attacking positions.

Similar to Salah, he has spent much of his time on the right flank, but he is also a fantastic centre forward and attacking midfield player.

Kudus is under contract with West Ham through 2028, with a further year’s option; therefore, a move to Anfield won’t be inexpensive.

Should the team decide to move Salah, former Liverpool defender Jose Enrique thinks Kudus would be a good substitute.

He told Grosvenor Sports last month that he believed Mohammed Kudus might be a Salah substitute.

“I would have said that even last summer, and he is obviously playing really well for West Ham right now.”