Arne Slot already has a major transfer choice to make as Liverpool prepares to part ways with Mohamed Salah.
Liverpool’s PR team may already be preparing goodbye montages for Mohamed Salah in anticipation of his potential departure next summer. They’ve already practiced since Jurgen Klopp’s departure, but with less notice.
Salah, who will go down as one of Liverpool’s greatest players, has stated that he intends to stay for successor Arne Slot’s first season, but it would be surprising if he signs a new contract. Liverpool has a tradition of only offering short-term renewals to elderly players, and the winger, who is out of contract in June, will turn 33 next summer.
There is no assurance that a fresh offer will be made, but a discussion about his future plans should be addressed at the very least, out of politeness for his contributions to the club. Liverpool will have exclusive rights to contract negotiations until December, following which the Egyptian will be able to negotiate with foreign clubs.
It would be unsurprising if boardroom executives are already making early arrangements to find Salah’s replacement, but attention will be focused on more pressing problems, with Slot yet to complete his first Liverpool deal.
The shift in job title from ‘manager’ to ‘head coach’ is supposed to indicate less power over moves, though the Dutchman will undoubtedly have a considerable influence on target selection, including who will replace Salah.
One highly regarded option already competes in the Premier League. Slot will be familiar with West Ham forward Mohammed Kudus from his Feyenoord outings against Ajax in the Netherlands. The Ghanaian scored 18 goals for the Hammers last season, a feat rarely achieved by wingers in their first year in England.
“When you perform at those levels in a league like this, it’s natural to hear rumours about other clubs,” the 24-year-old told The Athletic this summer. “But right now my focus is getting prepared for the new season and then we’ll see how everything goes.”
Kudus is not of the same caliber as Salah, being less agile but more strong and direct, yet he reflects his strength and tenacity. Nobody can truly replace Salah, but Kudus would be an interesting and dramatic change.
“I’m definitely a player that likes challenges,” Kudus said. “When I feel like I’m at a point where I’ve really killed it at a specific club and then there’s an opportunity, I would definitely challenge myself.”
Arsenal and Manchester United were connected with Kudus before his move to West Ham, which changed managers this summer with Julen Lopetegui replacing David Moyes. When the boss who hired you leaves, there is always the potential of a breakdown in manager rapport, but Kudus will be anxious to demonstrate that last season was more than a honeymoon.
The wide man was one of Moyes’ final presents to West Ham before his departure, and the player’s former development coach, Jeremy Seethal, is baffled as to why the Premier League’s larger hitters did not take a risk on him.
“Clubs will be thinking, ‘Why didn’t we sign this guy?’,” he told The Athletic. “Kudus is a £100 million player currently. He is an entertainer who can score goals, but I’m just glad he has changed his life.”
Liverpool may potentially be the club to offer Kudus a shot at the big time. This season, he will audition for such a transfer.
