Liverpool have said goodbye to Mohamed Salah following the completion of the 2025/26 season. The Egyptian left Anfield as a Premier League champion, Liverpool legend, and the club’s all-time leading Premier League goalscorer and signed off on his last day with an assist that showed how invaluable he had been to the club.
Now, Liverpool have a tall task of replacing Salah, but replacing the Egyptian is not simply about finding another right winger. Liverpool will be attempting to replace a player who delivered goals, assists, leadership, and consistency at an elite level for nearly a decade. Reports already suggest the club has begun exploring options, with several names emerging as potential replacements.
Why replacing Salah is Liverpool’s biggest challenge
When players like Salah leave a club, they lose a key part of their identity. His ability to score 20-plus goals regularly while creating chances for teammates made him the focal point of Liverpool’s attack. Squads were built around him.
Former teammate Dejan Lovren perhaps summed up the situation best when discussing Salah’s uncertain future last year: “I want Mo Salah to stay at Liverpool, he wants to stay. But I came to the conclusion that the management doesn’t respect him enough.”
With Salah now gone, Liverpool must decide whether to sign a direct replacement or spread his output across multiple players.
Potential Salah replacements
1. Nico Williams
Athletic Bilbao star Nico Williams appears to be one of the strongest candidates. Reports in Spain claim Liverpool have a significant interest in the Spanish international. His price tag, however, will be something to consider for a club that has already spent almost 200 million in one year. Williams, however, is young. At 23, he combines blistering pace, elite dribbling, a good shooting technique, and creativity. While he is more comfortable on the left flank, his versatility and age profile make him an attractive long-term investment.
2. Rodrygo
If Liverpool want a player capable of carrying a frontline, Brazilian and Real Madrid forward Rodrygo could be the ideal choice. The Real Madrid forward is young and is comfortable operating from both the left and the right wings while possessing excellent finishing ability and a mentality that allows him to thrive in high-pressure matches. Reports linking Liverpool with the Brazilian have circulated for months, particularly as the club prepared for a future without Salah. His technical quality and tactical intelligence make him perhaps the most natural heir to Salah’s role.
3. Yan Diomande
One of the more intriguing names that has been linked with Liverpool is RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande. According to reports, Diomande has emerged as a leading target as Liverpool seeks to refresh their attack. While far less proven than Williams or Rodrygo, he offers the kind of explosive athleticism and developmental potential Liverpool’s recruitment team often values.
4. Mohammed Kudus
Mohammed Kudus is the only Premier League proven name that has been linked to Liverpool as Salah’s replacement. He has long been admired by the club for his ability to operate across the front line. The Ghanaian combines power, creativity, and goal-scoring instincts. His versatility would allow Liverpool to reshape their attack without becoming overly dependent on one player.
The verdict: Liverpool need more than one Salah replacement
The reality is that Liverpool may never find a direct replacement for Salah. There are not many modern football players who can match his output year after year. Instead, the smarter approach may be the one many analysts have advocated for, which is to replace Salah’s numbers collectively rather than individually. Liverpool’s next great attack could emerge not from one superstar signing, but from a combination of players sharing the burden left behind by Salah.