Mohamed Salah confirmed on Tuesday that he will leave Anfield at the end of the 2025–26 season. His departure ends a nine-year chapter that changed everything fans expect from a world-class attacker. Since he arrived from Roma in 2017, Salah has dominated the Premier League. He ranks first in goals (189), assists (92), and open-play chances created (534). He also leads the league with 2,717 touches in the opposition’s box.
Currently, Salah holds the record for the most goal involvements for a single club in the competition’s history with 281. He also stands fourth on the all-time top-scorer list with 191 goals. Fenway Sports Group now faces the nearly impossible task of replacing him.
Liverpool’s dream target comes with a catch
Liverpool prioritise Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise, but completing a deal will be difficult. Bayern wants to extend his contract beyond 2029. Olise joined the German giants from Crystal Palace in July 2024. He finished his debut Bundesliga season with 12 goals and 15 assists, leading the league in assists.
This season, he has already earned 11 goals and 17 assists across 25 appearances. His strengths are easy to see. WhoScored rates his through balls, key passes, and dribbling as “very strong.” However, Olise’s defensive work remains a clear weakness. Since Olise only moved to Germany in mid-2024, convincing him to return to England so quickly looks like an ambitious move.
Yan Diomande emerges as a realistic option
Because of those hurdles, Liverpool have turned their attention to RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande. The teenager moved to the Bundesliga from Leganés last summer and immediately became a star. Diomande has scored 11 goals and provided seven assists in 27 matches. He is currently Europe’s second-best dribbler, trailing only Lamine Yamal. His 84 successful dribbles put him ahead of both Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappé.
Football FanCast reported in February that Liverpool held regular talks with Diomande’s camp. They are reportedly close to agreeing on personal terms. One source even called him a future contender for the title of the world’s best winger. Lewis Steele of The Daily Mail later backed up these claims. He reported that Liverpool contacted agents to monitor Diomande as a long-term target.
The player himself has spoken openly about the club. He noted that Anfield is his father’s favourite stadium and that his father always loved Steven Gerrard. However, Diomande did clarify that his current dream club is still Leipzig. Leipzig values him at roughly £86.5 million. The club needs a big sale this summer, regardless of whether they qualify for the Champions League. His main downside is a lack of experience. He turns 19 this year, which brings the usual risks of relying on a teenager at the highest level.
Bradley Barcola adds a new dimension
The Daily Mail also linked PSG’s Bradley Barcola to the Liverpool search. Barcola moved to PSG from Lyon for €45 million in 2023. During the 2024–25 season, he recorded 20 goal involvements in Ligue 1. He helped PSG win a continental treble, including the Champions League.
Arsenal join the race to sign €50m Liverpool target
He excels at in-behind runs and carrying the ball. Last season, he averaged an expected non-penalty goals-plus-assists figure of 0.97 per 90 minutes. That stat ranks Barcola among the best in Europe. He also ranks in the 99th percentile for receiving progressive passes. His weakness, however, is his own passing. He is much better at receiving the ball than creating plays for others. PSG would likely demand nearly €100 million for Barcola. Since his style overlaps with Cody Gakpo, his fit in the current squad is complicated.
