Who Replaces Mohamed Salah? 4 Transfer Options Liverpool Should Pursue

Mohamed Salah's historic Liverpool tenure is coming to an end after nine years at the club.

The Anfield hero finally broke the news on Tuesday, ending months of speculation. He will leave in the summer after winning every major honor on Merseyside and marking himself as a Premier League great.

Whether Salah is going to Saudi Arabia or not is yet to be confirmed, but one thing is for sure: Liverpool needs to find a top-quality replacement. Fast.

Let's dissect which names should be in the conversation.

Yan Diomande, RB Leipzig

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A man whose name will no doubt be Googled more than most after Salah's announcement. Diomande has already been linked with a future move to the Reds, and his arrival may have been expedited with the Egyptian's departure.

His rise has been nothing short of remarkable. He scored his first professional goal while with Leganes in May 2025, and just 10 months later, he's on the brink of securing a multi-million-pound move away from RB Leipzig, who snapped him up before the hype elevated his price.

Leipzig plucking Diomande from the Spanish club is a sign of endorsement. The German side has an incredible track record of buying soon-to-be world-class talent, but even they will be surprised by the progress Diomande has made this season.

The versatile forward has scored 10 goals and provided six assists in 21 Bundesliga starts this campaign. His best performances have come from the right wing, but his two-footedness makes him a threat from either side. The Ivorian is noticeably strong and rapid, and he has the confidence to try to make things happen whenever he's on the ball.

If Liverpool don't go for him, another powerhouse will.

Bradley Barcola, Paris Saint-Germain

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One really encouraging aspect of Bradley Barcola's career so far is the way he constantly has to battle for playing time against excellent players.

PSG's squad is crammed with versatile stars who can take his spot: Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Lee Kang-in, and Senny Mayulu. Like Barcola, they can all play across the frontline. Yet, Barcola consistently stands out and puts in big performances when the team needs him.

That should be enticing for Liverpool. The Merseyside club needs someone who still has room to grow, but can deal with expectation as soon as they arrive. Barcola is an impressive goalscorer (just ask Chelsea), and he instinctively cuts inside to link up with his aforementioned colleagues.

He plays with a freedom that could make him a real favourite at Anfield, who will actually get to see him again when the teams meet in the Champions League quarter-final next month.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United

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An easy suggestion to laugh at, perhaps. But one that has been speculated about previously.

Jarrod Bowen has worked hard for many years at West Ham, headlined by his winner in the 2023 UEFA Conference League final against Fiorentina.

These days, he's more likely to be pulling the club through difficult situations than landing trophies. The Hammers' dismal season may well prove too much for Bowen this time, as West Ham teeters on a relegation that only a free-falling Tottenham seems to be able to stop.

Bowen is more of a top-four player than he is a Championship player. He could also make sense for a club that has a chasm to fill. The Englishman has a shot at making Thomas Tuchel's World Cup squad because of his excellent individual qualities.

The 29-year-old's Premier League numbers do a lot of talking. Twelve goals and 10 assists in 2021-22. Sixteen goals and six assists in 2023-24. Thirteen and eight one year later. One of Bowen's rare strengths, though, is his leadership on the wing. He's a strong character and capable of achieving more than West Ham can offer him.

Proven Premier League talent is nothing to sniff at during a transitional moment. Just look at Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha at Manchester United. Liverpool shouldn't overlook a sensible stopgap en route to a longer-term replacement, especially as we're entering a summer when manager Arne Slot's future is likely to come under considerable speculation.

Michael Olise, Bayern Munich

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Michael Olise was always a good footballer in the Premier League.

However, he's reached another level since moving to Bayern Munich. The kind of level that should have him in the conversation for a Ballon d'Or, particularly if Vincent Kompany's side can land the Champions League, or France win the World Cup.

At 24 years old, Olise is comfortably one of the best footballers in the world. He almost floats with the ball, his dribbling so precise that you'd have more chance getting possession off him if he hid it up his shirt.

The real difference since heading to Bayern has been his end product. This season, Olise has a frankly incredible 11 goals and 17 assists in 21 Bundesliga starts and four sub appearances. Not to mention three goals and five assists in eight Champions League starts. Plus three goals and two assists in four World Cup qualifying matches for France. It's unusual for Olise to play and not contribute.

Liverpool should be right at the front of the queue if he can be prized away, as unlikely as that seems.