It would be a nightmare for Jurgen Klopp to lose his best player with the season already underway, yet Liverpool have already eyed a forward replacement if a mammoth Saudi Arabian bid comes
Mo Salah could leave Liverpool for Saudi Arabia this transfer window (Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Liverpool have reportedly identified Chelsea flop Joao Felix as Mohamed Salah’s replacement should he leave this summer.
Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad reignited their interest in the Reds’ star man last week. The club are prepared to make Salah the highest-paid player in Saudi Arabia, with his offered wages eclipsing even that of Cristiano Ronaldo’s.
The Anfield club have maintained that the Egyptian forward is not for sale, with Jurgen Klopp stating the “answer would be no” should a bid arrive for him with the season already underway.
However, the reality is that an offer of over £100million would be difficult to turn down for the 31-year-old. And the Reds have reportedly already begun contingency plans for if Salah leaves.
That is according to Portuguese outlet A Bola, which claims Liverpool would be “willing” to splash between £60- 68m of the money they receive for Salah on Joao Felix, who is yet to play for Atletico Madrid this season.
Atletico president Enrique Cerezo admitted recently that the 23-year-old does not want to play for the Spanish side and wishes to move elsewhere. Felix, who became Atletico’s record signing in a £111m transfer, has registered 34 goals and 18 assists in La Liga since 2019.
Joao Felix spent half of last season on loan at Chelsea (Image: Photo by Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images)
Felix would be no stranger to the Premier League if his move materialises. He had a disappointing loan spell with Chelsea for the second half of the 2022/23 season, scoring just four goals.
Meanwhile, Salah is thought to be happy to make the switch to Saudi, though the Reds legend will not agitate for a move away if Liverpool shut down any offers.
The forward notched another assist in the comeback win against Newcastle on Sunday, setting up Darwin Nunez’s emphatic winner to take his tally to one goal and two assists in three matches.
