So Mohamed Salah returned from the African Cup of Nations this week and performed the total recreation as Liverpool beat Marseille within the Champions League.
However the 33-year-old was fooled by the hype, lacking out on some golden possibilities and easily combating fluency down the fitting.
It has been a tricky season for Liverpool, however Salah has been on the heart of their woes, along with his explosive falling out with Arne Slott in December main many to imagine he could also be headed for an exit.
The Saudi Professional League welcomes the King of Egypt, the definitive celebrity of this superb period on Merseyside. Salah earns £400,000 per week and has a contract with Liverpool till 2027, however he may very well be trying on the remaining a part of his profession at Anfield.
How will Liverpool cope with Salah’s departure?
Salah’s scenario at Liverpool is sophisticated by the rising curiosity in Federico Chiesa, who has struggled to take care of his type whereas being chased by Juventus and unable to tackle a beginning position within the slot system.
The Premier League champions have been removed from their finest this season, however Salah’s droop and the sale of Luis Diaz final summer time with out bringing in an equal participant may very well be rectified with a profitable attacking signing in 2026.
Sporting director Richard Hughes has recognized plenty of targets over the previous few months, however RB Leipzig’s Yann Diomande has emerged because the frontrunner, in accordance with Reds correspondent Lewis Steele.
Diomande, 19, has been one of many standout gamers within the Bundesliga this season and his performances have attracted loads of suitors for his slot within the switch market.
Nevertheless, the Bundesliga facet has no real interest in promoting him in January. The participant’s switch payment is believed to be £100m, suggesting Liverpool have an interest now and are making a long-term transfer to lure the 19-year-old prospect earlier than launching a big-money bid this summer time.
Tottenham Hotspur are additionally mentioned to have a vested curiosity, however Diomande himself admits that he was a Liverpool fan as a boy and dreamed of taking part in at Anfield.
What Diomande brings to Liverpool
Diomande, described by journalist Bence Boksak as a “generational expertise”, joined the German from La Liga facet Leganes final summer time and has been a giant hit for Leipzig this season.
Diomande, who returned from an AFCON marketing campaign with Ivory Coast that solely confirmed the hype surrounding his signing, has scored seven objectives and offered three assists for Leipzig this season, with Boksak additionally saying he’s “destined to be particular”.
Though he can play on the left, {the teenager} has additionally confirmed to be very succesful on the fitting and will have established himself as Salah’s excellent successor, particularly contemplating the membership legend’s possible departure later this 12 months.
Salah’s final season was a unprecedented effort. He scored 19 objectives and offered 18 assists within the Premier League, serving to Slots win the title. Because the summer time, he has in all probability used up among the qualities he had left within the 12 months, as he has been far faraway from final 12 months’s degree.
Wasteful in entrance of purpose and powerless in transition, Salah is at present the alternative of Diomande, and his exploits within the Bundesliga have far outstripped the Liverpool icon.
Salah vs Diomande (League format 25/26) | ||
|---|---|---|
Statistics (* per match) | Salah | Diomand |
Match (begin) | 14(12) | 16(11) |
Aim + Help | 4+3 | 6+2 |
contact* | 48.4 | 43.7 |
Variety of photographs (on course)* | 2.5(0.8) | 1.6 (0.9) |
missed a giant alternative | 7 | 3 |
Precise path* | 21.9 (76%) | 21.8 (83%) |
Alternatives created* | 2.4 | 1.3 |
dribble* | 0.9 | 2.8 |
acquire* | 2.8 | 4.1 |
Sort out + Interception* | 0.3 | 1.4 |
Win a duel* | 2.4 | 4.5 |
Information by way of Sofascore | ||
Diomand is younger, however youth comes with dangers, particularly when such a stalwart is concerned. Nevertheless, it’s clear that the Ivorian is a prime expertise and one who is certain to safe a talismanic spot on Liverpool’s wing for years to come back.
Salah is a legend and an integral a part of carrying a Liverpool shirt, however Diomande is his personal participant, with a pure sense of purpose and the proper complement to his fast-paced, electrical dribbling type, and is simply beginning to hit his stride.
Diomande, who’s a “monster” in one-on-one conditions, will signal an announcement after which signal some gamers from Liverpool, as instructed by analyst Marcus Bulling, and they should get that finished.
New Henderson: Liverpool prime goal with £65m ‘cheat code’
Liverpool are able to signal a top-class midfielder in 2026.
