Liverpool are likely to already be preparing for the potential departure of star player Mohamed Salah by identifying transfer targets to replace him in attack, according to Neil Jones in his exclusive column for the Daily Briefing.
However, Jones insists he is surprised to see Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sane continuing to come up as a name reportedly on the Reds’ list of targets, as he doesn’t feel this would be a signing that fits the club’s recruitment policy.
Sane has had a fine career with the likes of Bayern and Manchester City, and one imagines that, at his peak, he would have been a good fit for Jurgen Klopp’s side, though he’s not getting any younger and has never been a particularly similar style of player to Salah anyway.
While Liverpool are likely to be planning for life after their Egyptian superstar, according to Jones, he is unsure about the stories involving Sane, and seemed to urge caution on that front.
“The topic of Mo Salah and Saudi Arabia is not going to go away. We know that. Liverpool were able to stand firm (and rightly so) in the summer, but the noises will start up again before the January window opens, and with the Egyptian now heading towards the final year of his contract, it will be harder and harder for the Reds to resist big money,” Jones explained.
“I would be amazed if Liverpool haven’t already begun earmarking players who can potentially come in if Salah leaves, whether in January, next summer or (less likely) as a free agent in 2025, but it surprises me that Leroy Sane’s name continues to be linked with the club.
“The German international is a fine player, no doubt, but he will be 28 in January, and only twice in his career has he hit double figures in terms of league goals in a season. Both of those were at Manchester City, before his progress was checked by a serious knee injury.
“Clearly, finding another Salah is going to be nigh-on impossible, but if we look at Liverpool’s previous transfer dealings, you can see a clear pattern in terms of the type of profile they would look for; 22-25 years old, 150+ top-level games under their belt, versatility in terms of position, experience in European competition and both a proven level of output, but with the room (and the attitude) to develop quickly and significantly under a coach like Klopp.
“Who that might be, that’s another matter entirely, but someone like Sane would represent a shift away from that policy in my opinion. I’d be wary of those links.”