Liverpool are willing to once again break their transfer record in order to sign a player who can “do everything”, and he is seen as a replacement for Mohamed Salah.
Slot assesses another Liverpool defeat
The Premier League champions suffered their third defeat in a week on Saturday, losing 2-1 at Chelsea, with the Reds heading into the international break in worrying form.
Speaking after the game, Liverpool head coach Arne Slot offered an honest verdict, admitting there were still aspects of the performance that he liked.
“Another disappointing loss. That’s clear. Another game similar to the Palace game, although the game was completely different because the playing style of both teams are completely different. But not similar to the Palace game where in the first half I think we played not our best football but still were able to create three big chances.
“They’ve only had one and they’ve immediately scored it, which was completely different to the Palace game, where Palace created a lot of chances in the first half. And the second-half performance, like in Palace, I liked, we’ve created more than enough chances to score more than one goal – last week and today. I think there was a period of the game where I felt, ‘Now we’re going to win it.'”
Salah struggled badly once again, with the Liverpool legend in poor form, and a potential replacement for him has now been linked with a move to Anfield.
Liverpool willing to sign £130m Salah replacement
According to a report from Spain, Liverpool are preparing to pay £130m to sign Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise, breaking their transfer record again in the process, with the Reds seeing him as a replacement for Salah.
The Frenchman has grown into one of the best wingers in Europe currently, and Chelsea and Manchester City are also mentioned as options for him.
Writing Salah off feels far too premature, with the Egyptian simply not playing with his usual confidence, but at 33, it is clear that he can’t go on forever.
Finding a long-term successor to him at Liverpool has to be considered priority transfer business, and in Olise, the Reds could have the perfect option to take on the mantle.
The former Crystal Palace man can be a joy to watch, gliding in off the right wing onto his left foot, and he has been lauded by Bayern teammate Dayot Upamecano: “He’s a magician. His technical level is very high. He can do everything. He can score, set up, and even defend.”
Most importantly, Olise has substance as well as style, which will be needed to replace Salah, with four goals and assists apiece already coming his way for Bayern this season.
At 23 years of age, he has so much time to improve, and while £130m is an enormous amount of money, Liverpool signing the Frenchman could be a masterstroke as the years pass.
