Liverpool: ‘Outstanding’ African Striker Likely to Succeed Mohamed Salah
With Mohamed Salah now stating he is “more out than in” regarding his future at Liverpool, fans of the Reds are beginning to brace themselves for life after the Egyptian star.
The forward has been in his usual sensational form this season, amassing 12 goals and 10 assists in 18 matches across all competitions. His impressive tally of 223 goals in just 367 Liverpool appearances since joining from Roma in 2017 has solidified his legacy as a great at Anfield, and supporters are understandably worried that he could depart for free in 2025.
In light of this, Liverpool legend Emile Heskey, who netted 60 goals for the Reds during his playing career, has urged his former club to consider another African forward who could potentially replace Salah should he leave the club.
Liverpool hero Heskey: “In a top side, he could score loads of goals”
“Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo is a player I admire a lot,” Heskey shared with eScored on behalf of William Hill. “He’s incredible on the ball, has the ability to beat defenders, and scores a considerable number of goals for a team that isn’t competing at the very top of the league. In a stronger squad, he could definitely rack up a lot of goals.
“It’s tough with Mo Salah because who else can provide those numbers? We often want more from Mo, but when a player consistently delivers 20 goals per season, coupled with over 30 goal contributions, it’s truly exceptional. No one else in the league is matching those figures for both goals and assists. So Liverpool face a massive challenge in finding a replacement for Salah whenever that time comes.”
Heskey believes decisive recruitment will be crucial for replacing Salah, despite Arne Slot’s squad already containing significant talent.
“I really can’t think of another player in the league who can match what he brings,” Heskey noted. “In terms of raw quality, Liverpool have a fantastic player in Luis Diaz who can step into Salah’s shoes, but even he isn’t delivering those kinds of statistics consistently. He’s an exciting talent, but he’ll need to increase his goal tally to help fill that gap.
“Liverpool faces a crucial decision: do you offer Salah the contract and duration he’s seeking, or do you invest £150 million in a player who might approximate his contributions? Even that wouldn’t guarantee success. Kylian Mbappe hasn’t gotten off to a flying start at Real Madrid. There are no certainties in football.”
Salah is currently in the last year of his Liverpool contract and insists that no contract offer has been made to extend his stay at the club. Several top European clubs, along with teams in MLS and the Saudi Pro League, have been rumored to be interested in securing a free transfer once his current contract expires.
Mbeumo, now 25, has netted eight goals in 12 Premier League appearances this season. His value to Brentford suggests he would likely command a hefty price next summer, especially as his contract runs until 2027.
The Cameroonian is currently valued at €40 million on Transfermarkt. An offer of double that amount might be necessary to persuade Brentford to part with their key player.
