Liverpool prepared for Mohamed Salah blow as rivals prepare for January exit

Tottenham Hotspur have suffered a similar blow to what Liverpool expect with Mohamed Salah midway through next season

Liverpool rivals Tottenham Hotspur are at risk of losing talisman Son Heung-min midway through next season as he is set to feature in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.

The tournament, which was due to be held in China this summer, suffered setbacks due to the host country’s Covid-19 issues.

Last year, the decision was made to postpone the tournament and then move it to recent World Cup hosts Qatar. The dates were finally confirmed earlier in 2023.

As reported by football.london, the striker’s first group stage game against South Korea will take place on Monday January 15, with the final taking place on Saturday February 10.

During this window, depending on when players are released for international play, and in North London due to his club’s FA Cup and Carabao Cup success, Son could miss up to seven domestic matches.

This will give any of the club’s Premier League rivals a boost in the race for the title and European qualification, although in Liverpool’s case it would only serve to level the playing field. as the Reds face the same crisis with Mohamed Salah, one of their own teams.

Two seasons ago, Salah – then with Sadio Mane – dealt a double blow to Jurgen Klopp’s plans when he was called up for selection at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Both reached the final with their respective nations, with the Egyptian king desperate after a penalty shootout defeat and missing a total of six club games in all competitions.

Next year’s AFCON will take place over a slightly longer period than the Asian Cup, starting on Saturday January 13 and ending on Sunday February 11.

During this time, Salah could miss up to 10 Liverpool matches, including crucial Premier League clashes with Chelsea and Arsenal and both legs of a potential Carabao Cup semi-final.

If Liverpool and Spurs each lose their prized possession for as long as possible, it would be a major blow to both clubs’ goals to bounce back from the disappointing 2022/23 seasons.

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After Klopp “rejected derisory” permanent transfer offer, Liverpool player “finalizes” Bundesliga loan

Liverpool youngster Fabio Carvalho was reportedly set to complete his loan move to Bundesliga side RB Leipzig after Jurgen Klopp “refused” a permanent departure.

The Premier League giants signed the 20-year-old from Fulham last year for a fee of around £7.7m.

Carvalho impressed in the early stages of the 2022-23 season when he scored a late winner against Newcastle United, but his debut season at Liverpool was a struggle overall.

The Portuguese Under-21 international has been limited to just four Premier League appearances and Klopp admitted the 2022/23 season “wasn’t the best year for Carvalho”.

“I think there is a possibility that Fabio goes on loan or something. We will see. The fact is that for Fabio it was clearly not the best year of his career, even though it was a very young career, but it could have been his most important,” Klopp said.

“No player has impressed me as much as Fabio, that’s the truth. Because this very talented boy came here with big dreams and high expectations, it was fine at the start but it didn’t work out in the end. .

RB Leipzig quickly emerged as a potential suitor for Carvalho and Liverpool turned down a “ridiculous” standing offer from the German side last month.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano now reports that Carlvalho will ‘move’ to RB Leipzig and a ‘buy option’ will not be included in the deal.

He added: “Negotiations are being finalized as the deal will be signed next week, but the overall deal has been confirmed.
“A loan deal was the only solution as Klopp and Liverpool have rejected any offers for a permanent deal.”

A report from Football Insider, meanwhile, adds: “Carvalho is closing in on a season-long move to RB Leipzig.”

Liverpool reportedly “refused an offer of more than £10m from Leipzig before the end of the season” and they were initially hoping he would agree to a loan deal to another Premier League side.

READ MORE: Liverpool star Salah next main target? All players linked to Saudi Arabia will move this summer

West Ham, Brentford and Burnley have asked for Carvalho, but his preference was for RB Leipzig.

Former Premier League striker Gabby Agbonlahor believes the Liverpool star should join the Hammers.
“If I were Carvalho, I would go to West Ham to play there,” Agbonalhor told Football Insider.

“When Fulham got promoted a few seasons ago and Carvalho decided to join Liverpool, it was never the right decision because he wouldn’t get playing time.

“But now he needs a Premier League loan to show he’s good enough to compete in the division.

“He shouldn’t leave the Premier League and go somewhere else. “I think he’s a top player but he would never have had a chance at Liverpool and I think Liverpool have a lot of players in the position they like to play in so West Ham would be a good move.”