6 realistic replacements for Mohamed Salah at Liverpool | OneFootball

Liverpool supporters are soaking up the relentless brilliance of Mohamed Salah for perhaps the final time this season.

The Egyptian's earth-shattering numbers have propelled Liverpool to the summit of the Premier League, where they appear set to remain for the rest of the campaign. The remarkable debut season of Arne Slot would not have been possible without the legendary winger producing characteristically breathtaking displays on a weekly basis.

There has been little time to consider the future for the Reds over recent months as they challenge for three major pieces of silverware, but their inability to tie Salah down to a new contract has understandably raised alarm bells.

The 32-year-old's current deal expires this summer and he will almost certainly prove irreplaceable. However, if he does exit Anfield at the end of the season, the Reds will be forced to enter the transfer market in search of someone capable of filling the mightiest of voids.

Here are six players who could realistically replace Salah at Liverpool - as much as any one individual can, of course.

Nico Williams is one of Europe's top prospects / Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/GettyImages

Any pursuit of Nico Williams would likely require Liverpool to make some tactical changes. The Athletic Club winger stole the spotlight at Euro 2024 as Spain conquered the continent and the 22-year-old was unsurprisingly linked with an array of the world's behemoths over the summer window. The Reds were one of those touted with an interest, although it was Barcelona who came closest to sorting a deal.

However, while there can be no doubting Williams' immense potential and ability, he would not be an out-and-out replacement for Salah. He operates primarily on the left wing as opposed to the right, while he's also right-footed.

The two wide forwards share similar attributes - skill, speed and an eye for goal - but Williams is more of a traditional winger. Pace and agility are his greatest attributes, with the uncanny ability to skin opposition full-backs by cutting inside or reaching the byline.

Williams would be an expensive acquisition and one that would force Slot to reshuffle his pack. He could well prove a generational talent, but he may offer more questions than answers within Liverpool's current setup.

Bryan Mbeumo

One of the Premier League's most underappreciated players / Mike Hewitt/GettyImages

Bryan Mbeumo is perhaps the most under-appreciated player in the Premier League. If you were looking for a budget Salah replacement, then the Cameroon international may be the most effective player you could find.

Mbeumo and Salah share some key attributes, chiefly blending speed with remarkable upper body strength in spite of a relatively diminutive frame. The ability to occupy the right half-space and pop shots at goal also ties them together, with Mbeumo boasting an exceptional left foot capable of supplying any kind of finish.

The 25-year-old isn't producing Salah numbers just yet but his output is scalable. He's the most prolific campaign of his top-flight career, plugging the gap left by Ivan Toney's sharpshooting.

The winger, who has also occasionally operated as a striker, would not be cheap, but he could actually prove to be a cost-effective addition in the grand scheme of the wider market.

Takefusa Kubo has been linked with Liverpool before / David Ramos/GettyImages

There's a reason that Takefusa Kubo was plucked from Japanese football by Barcelona and then Real Madrid at a young age. While unable to progress with either La Liga giant, Spain has proven an immensely successful home for the now Real Sociedad superstar.

Kubo has come into his own in San Sebastian and has earned links with Liverpool in previous windows - including last summer. Two impressive full seasons with Real Sociedad have caught the eye, with the pocket rocket forward known for his ingenuity and flair.

He's yet to produce a truly seismic season in terms of goals and assists - he's yet to hit double digit in either category during a single campaign - but the 23-year-old could thrive in a more offensive-minded side and with better individuals surrounding him.

Johan Bakayoko

Johan Bakayoko scored against Liverpool in January / ANP/GettyImages

Slot will know all about Johan Bakayoko. The tricky Belgian was one of the reasons the Liverpool boss failed to win the Eredivisie title in his final season at Feyenoord. 21 goal contributions in the league helped PSV Eindhoven secure the Dutch crown and a record points tally.

Bakayoko's success in the Netherlands has not gone unnoticed by Premier League suitors, with Brentford coming close to signing the 21-year-old in 2023. Liverpool have reportedly shown interest in the right winger, too, even if his numbers haven't been quite as impressive this season.

The Reds saw his potential first-hand in their final Champions League league phase encounter, with Bakayoko scoring an excellent goal in his side's 3-2 win over the Premier League leaders. He's become synonymous with such moments of individual brilliance and is another left-footer who enjoys cutting inside and taking aim at goalkeepers.

Jamie Gittens

Jamie Gittens is enjoying an immense campaign / Denis Doyle/GettyImages

Borussia Dortmund have long been a safe haven for British talent abroad and Jamie Gittens is another who has sought refuge in the Ruhr region. The Englishman has taken time to settle having previously been on the books at Manchester City, but 2024/25 has served as his breakout campaign thus far.

Racking up a double-digit goal tally by mid-January has made Europe's elite sit up and take notice of the 20-year-old, who boasts searing pace and a knack for spectacular strikes. In a difficult season for Dortmund, Gittens has been a shining light.

Like Williams, however, the England Under-21 international is predominantly utilised on the left-hand side, meaning he would not necessarily be a direct replacement for Salah - unless he was to be repositioned. Still, a player of such talent and potential must be considered.

Jarrod Bowen

Jarrod Bowen was admired by Jurgen Klopp / Julian Finney/GettyImages

Slot is yet to witness the same Jarrod Bowen that predecessor Jurgen Klopp repeatedly waxed lyrical about. The West Ham United talisman has tormented Liverpool in recent times - he produced three goals and an assist in three meetings last term - with his electric pace, incredible work ethic and dynamite left foot proving difficult to halt.

Bowen has often gone under the radar somewhat at West Ham but has produced a combined 79 goals and assists across the previous three full campaigns with the Irons. Even in an often cautious David Moyes team, the England international was capable of conjuring up magic.

The prohibitive factor in a move for Bowen is not only a sizeable price tag but the winger's age. He turned 28 last December and while that offers Liverpool a consistent and experienced figure, there is an expectation that his standards will begin to deteriorate over the coming seasons.