Michael Owen says Liverpool should look to sign two Premier League players in the summer with uncertainty over Arne Slot’s attacking options amid the wait for news on Mohamed Salah’s contract.
Regardless of whether Salah stays or goes, Liverpool could do with adding some more quality in the final third with a number nine likely to be high up on the agenda. Jamie Carragher made the argument this week for adding two players in attack even if Salah stays with question marks over Diogo Jota’s form and Luis Diaz’s output.
“I think if [Salah] was to go, Liverpool would look to replace him and find another attacking player, probably, because I think Darwin Nunez will probably go as well,” Owen said. “So, if Mo Salah was to go, that’s two attacking players and they would definitely need to replace that with one or two.
“There’s lots of alternatives out there but no one can replace Mo Salah. There’s no one out there who is going to get his numbers. There’s been a few rumors lately about different players; Alexander Isak, obviously, at Newcastle who scored against them the other day.
“That would just be an incredible move if Liverpool could get him, but I’m sure virtually every team wants him. I’m sure Newcastle are desperate to keep hold of him, so that would be an interesting one.
“I like Antoine Semenyo at Bournemouth, who plays in the same position as Salah. I like him, a younger version, but definitely got energy, scoring capabilities and a good player.”
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While Isak would be a dream signing for most clubs this summer, it is thought that Newcastle is desperate to keep him. It has so far refused to even name a price that would bring the Magpies to the negotiating table because they have no intention of cashing in on the Swede.
“You can’t replace Mo Salah,” Owen, who was speaking to OLBG, added. “I mean, if you said Mo Salah and Darwin Nunez went and Alexander Isak and Antoine Semenyo came then I don’t think it’s the worst swap in the world if we’re playing fantasy football here. But realistically, Liverpool want to keep hold of their best players. Mo Salah is their best player so hopefully he doesn’t leave.”
Liverpool.com says: Salah has scored more than half of Liverpool’s goals this season and when he has been stifled in the last couple of games, the Reds haven’t looked dangerous. Even replacing him with Isak would not mean the same output being replicated.
That is the level that Salah is operating at. Bringing in Semenyo, who has scored seven league goals this year, would be nowhere near enough. Goals are the hardest thing to sign and Salah already guarantees 30-plus of them.
