Liverpool's Mohamed Salah replacement: Eight transfer options for Reds to consider ahead of Egyptian's summer exit

Probably an outsider in this succession contest, Bakayoko has long been rumoured to be a target for Liverpool since breaking through at PSV Eindhoven - even pronouncing in January 2025 that he could "definitely join" the Reds after a Champions League goal against them. However, those links have gone quiet of late and the Belgian has since taken the next step in his career.

The winger joined RB Leipzig in the summer in what seems like a classic stepping-stone move, but after a fast start he has faded and now finds himself reduced to a bit-part role in eastern Germany. It would be little surprise if the Reds were still monitoring him, and he could represent a cheaper fix than some of the other options on this list.

There was a sense that Barcola was 'the other winger' at Paris Saint-Germain last season, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue hogging the limelight as the French giants surged to that elusive first-ever Champions League crown. His status as third-choice wide man in the French capital led to genuine links with Liverpool back in the summer, and those resurfaced back in December after Salah threw his future in serious doubt.

Barcola remains in and out of the PSG starting XI depending on who's available, but the reigning champions of Europe would still be reluctant to sell the France international even if he's not necessarily the first name on the team sheet. If anyone were to try and pry Barcola away from PSG, it could cost them a nine-figure sum.

A big reason why the aforementioned Bakayoko has struggled for game time of late, Diomande has been a revelation for Leipzig this season. Signing the Ivorian looks like a typically shrewd piece of business by the Red Bull Group; the 19-year-old cost just €20m (£17.5m/$23.5m) when he arrived from Leganes in the summer, and the Bundesliga club already look set to make a handsome profit on their investment.

Head coach Ole Werner's decision to switch Diomande from the left to the right flank in October has proven to be transformative, yielding 11 goals and eight assists in all competitions for Leipzig heading into the March international break. A rapid, dazzling dribbler who clearly has an eye for goal, the young Ivorian could be the ideal long-term successor to Salah - but Leipzig will be in no rush to let him go.

One of the unsung stars of the Premier League season, Ouattara has given Brentford bang for their buck following his club-record £42.5m ($57m) move from Bournemouth in the summer. The versatile Burkina Faso attacker has been instrumental in his side's unexpected surge up the table under Keith Andrews, racking up a combined 12 goals and assists at the time of writing, despite missing a significant chunk of the season due to participation at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Albeit he is a left-field option, as someone who is Premier League proven and still just 24 years old, Ouattara would surely represent better value for money than a number of other names on this list, with Liverpool's summer spending spree allaying the need to necessarily replace Salah with another bonafide superstar. Like the man whose big shoes he would be stepping into, he could develop into a hero at Anfield.

Depending on who you believe, Pulisic has been on Liverpool's radar for years - dating back to the American star's breakthrough at Borussia Dortmund, when ex-BVB boss Jurgen Klopp was in charge at Anfield. He has since played for Chelsea and AC Milan without the Reds ever formalising their reported interest, perhaps biding their time in the background, but now may be the opportune moment to strike, especially in light of the unfolding Salah saga.

After an injury-hit spell at Stamford Bridge, Pulisic has largely overcome his fitness issues and excelled in Italy across two-and-a-bit impressive seasons, with Milan looking to complete a remarkable chase-down of runaway Serie A leaders Inter. Granted, he has been playing more centrally this year, but the USMNT talisman has developed into exactly the kind of influential attacker Liverpool may have been playing the long game for.

Williams could finally be on the move in the coming months despite committing his immediate future to Athletic Club just last summer, much to Barcelona's expense and embarrassment. As they start to plan for life without Salah, it would be no surprise to see Liverpool position themselves to land Nico as soon as possible; the Spain international represents a gettable, top-level winger target who has the potential to be a long-term replacement for the Egyptian, although it would require some positional flexibility as he is predominantly a left-winger.

Competition for the 23-year-old's signature could prove to be the most significant stumbling block to getting their man, though. It has previously been reported that Barcelona is his preferred destination, although those bridges may have been burned. Arsenal and Bayern Munich are other European big hitters who are believed to harbour a serious interest in the wide man, whose new release clause stands at a competitive €90m (£79m/$106m).

This would be the dream signing for Liverpool. Links with Michael Olise began way before he even got to Bayern Munich, with the Reds seemingly earmarking him as a potential Salah successor when he was still at Crystal Palace.

Since making the move to Bavaria, Olise has entered a different stratosphere of superstar. He is now one of Europe's deadliest and most effective outlets from the wing, while he is a regular in the France national team too. Of course, the stumbling block here is Bayern's reluctance to sell, with recent reports claiming Olise would only be allowed to leave if a bid of €200m (£173m/$232m) came in.

But do Liverpool actually need to spend a penny? That's a question they will seriously need to weigh up, as they have someone in their ranks who could genuinely save them a significant sum of money in the long run, but backing him will take a hell of a lot of trust from the club's board and whoever the manager may be beyond this season. Faced with the unenviable task of replacing Salah, could Rio Ngumoha fill the void for the Reds?

The 17-year-old has generational potential, and it has been reported that previous transfer pursuits - such as in the case of Barcola - have been called off so as not to block the youngster's pathway to the first team. The Egyptian's exit will clear it altogether. Liverpool also shouldn't need the kind of output from their new right-winger that Salah has delivered year on year, with the intention of spending more than £240m ($322m) on Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz surely to ensure that that burden is shared going forward.