Two reported transfer approaches leave Mohamed Salah future unclear

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Liverpool have some questions to answer about the future of Mohamed Salah. Two transfer approaches make the Egyptian’s future unclear.

Liverpool supposedly made moves for two big-money stars over the summer. That’s the news coming out of Thursday, anyway.

Il Giornale in Italy claims the Reds offered up to £84m in an attempt to sign Federico Chiesa from Juventus. Their offers were knocked back, however.

Then we have Raphinha’s agent Deco claiming that Liverpool made approaches over the Brazilian. Leeds United wanted to wait another year and the Reds didn’t get any further than that.

Both are wonderful players that Liverpool would be lucky to have. But both would also cost a fortune and, most importantly, ask serious questions about Mohamed Salah.

Does Salah have a future elsewhere?

Liverpool certainly wouldn’t sign both Chiesa and Raphinha. It certainly appears that they want a big-money signing on the right-wing, however.

Chiesa has played the vast majority of his games on that flank this season, while the Brazilian has played all of his there. So what does that mean for Salah?

Because on the face of it, this comes across as Liverpool preparing for his exit. It’s well documented that Salah’s contract expires in 2023 and there’s yet to be an agreement over a new one. It could well make this his final season with the Reds.

Staying competitive would mean replacing Salah with a top talent. Both Chiesa and Raphinha are that, even if they’re not at the Egyptian’s level. Liverpool would be betting that one of them develops to that level, essentially.

Position change?

But there’s another option here. Liverpool didn’t sign a new centre-forward in the summer, leaving them a little short in that department. In fact, Divock Origi is the only natural no.9 in the squad.

Perhaps the idea, then, is to move Salah central and add a new right-winger alongside him. That’s certainly the happier option here.

Salah’s record in a central role is sensational, after all. Put him there with a brand new winger and it could be magic – but this might just be wishful thinking.

What’s clear is that these two reported approaches ask real questions of Liverpool’s future with Salah. Hopefully, there’s nothing negative about all of this.