Liverpool are monitoring Serge Gnabry’s situation at Bayern Munich as they weigh up a move for the forward.
That’s according to Goal, who claim that The Reds have ‘identified Gnabry as a potential replacement for Mohamed Salah.’
Jurgen Klopp is reportedly a ‘keen admirer’ of the 26-year-old, who has a contract running until 2023.
Goal claim that new terms for Gnabry are ‘not yet close.’ That’s despite the German champions best attempts to try to tie him down to a new deal.
Liverpool are reportedly joined in their interest of the forward by Real Madrid and Juventus.
A world class option
Should Liverpool be unable to persuade Salah to sign a new contract, then Gnabry could be an excellent option.
Since joining Bayern in 2018, he has become one of the most improved wingers in world football.
The German international is unrecognisable from the player who failed to make an impression at Arsenal and West Brom in the Premier League.
Gnabry had his best season in-front of goal in 2019/20. He scored 23 times as Bayern won the treble. During that season he was labelled ‘world class’ by Rio Ferdinand on BT Sport via Daily Mail after he scored twice in the Champions League semi-final.
This season, he has managed 14 goals and seven assists from 37 games.
The same, but different
Stylistically, Gnabry is fairly similar to Salah. They both like to attack from wide areas as adept dribblers with excellent close control.
Like Salah, Gnabry is very much a goalscoring winger who is also comfortable in central areas.
Where the two differ is that while Liverpool’s Egyptian King is very much a left-footer, Gnabry’s stronger on his right. In Klopp’s system, you would expect Gnabry to line up on the left-hand side of the attack.
As far as right-footed wingers go, he has a good left foot. Four of his 11 Bundesliga goals this season have been on his ‘weaker’ side.
But in terms of a potential Salah replacement, he doesn’t look like a seamlessly natural fit for that role. However, should he become available, he’s certainly worth a close look.