Liverpool are reportedly weighing up an approach for 18-year-old Nordsjaelland winger Sindre Walle Egeli, who has been likened to Bayern Munich legend Arjen Robben.
The Reds could win the first trophy of the Arne Slot era when they collide with Newcastle United in Sunday’s EFL Cup final at Wembley, but three high-profile contract situations are still proving an unwelcome distraction.
As well as Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold potentially leaving on free transfers, Liverpool remain at risk of losing the indomitable Mohamed Salah for nothing when his contract runs out in June.
The Egypt international – who is on course for the greatest individual season in Premier League history – has issued several ‘get-on-with-it’ messages to the club’s board, and he is believed to be open to staying if an agreement can be struck.
However, should Salah and Liverpool part ways this summer, a replacement will inevitably be sought, as Federico Chiesa has endured a difficult first season and could even be sold in the upcoming window.
Liverpool in three-way fight for Salah successor?
According to Football Insider, the Reds could instead look to the future with the signing of 18-year-old Nordsjaelland starlet Egeli, who has drawn comparisons with Robben in the embryonic stages of his career.
The teenager himself played down such talk when asked by Eurosport, but he is sending tongues wagging in Denmark, where he has produced six goals and five assists from 23 appearances in all competitions this season.
The Norway Under-21 international is already a first-choice attacker for Nordsjaelland, whom he joined from Sandefjord in 2022 for just £168,700, and there is supposedly a ‘growing feeling’ that he is ready for the Premier League.
Everton and Newcastle United are also believed to be monitoring the progress of the 2006-born winger, who could become the latest in a long line of Nordsjaelland products to make a name for themselves in Europe.
The Danish giants have a track record of producing exciting attacking talents, as all of Mohammed Kudus, Mikkel Damsgaard, Simon Adingra, Kamaldeen Sulemana and Ernest Nuamah came through the Nordsjaelland system.
Brentford stalwart Mathias Jensen and Napoli midfielder Stanislav Lobotka have also represented Nordsjaelland, who have Liverpool-linked Egeli under contract for another three years.
Which other Salah successors are Liverpool after?
Egeli may only be a fresh-faced 18-year-old, but not even the senior names on Liverpool’s attacking shortlist could replicate what Salah brings to the Slot system, even in the second half of his career.
Nevertheless, plenty will give it a good go, and the Reds are said to have identified Juventus and Turkey starlet Kenan Yildiz as another potential ‘heir’ to the 32-year-old’s throne.
Slot’s Eredivisie connections could also be utilised, as Liverpool are said to be running the rule over Feyenoord’s Anis Hadj Moussa and PSV Eindhoven’s Johan Bakayoko ahead of the summer window.
For the time being, Salah will be up to his usual tricks on the right-hand side as Liverpool seek to match a trophy record set by Manchester United by winning Sunday’s EFL Cup final.
