Serge Gnabry could well be Liverpool’s shot at a Mohamed Salah successor. The Reds reportedly want the winger.
Each passing day brings us one day closer to Mohamed Salah’s contract ending at Liverpool. In fact, he officially enters the final year this week.
It’s well-documented that the Reds have tried to renew the deal but the two parties can’t agree on terms. It’s a tricky one, in truth, with Salah now 30 and wanting what would be – by far – the biggest deal in Liverpool’s history.
And so there’s every chance that the Egyptian leaves Anfield next summer. Liverpool wouldn’t receive anything for their star player, either – replacing him will be virtually impossible.
It might actually be outright impossible. No one is as good as Salah on the right flank, after all, and Liverpool must take a step backwards. Or at the very least, a step in a different direction as the team relies less on goals from wide positions.
And that’s why Serge Gnabry increasingly looks like a fine successor to Salah.
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Serge Gnabry as a Salah successor
Sport claim that Liverpool like Gnabry and want to sign him. He’s also out of contract in 2023 and could be available for free. The German might even be available to buy on the cheap right now.
But we think Liverpool might wait. Picking up Gnabry on a free transfer makes a lot of sense and we think he could actually replace Salah.
Now, that doesn’t mean he’d be banging in 30 a season like the Egyptian. Instead, we think Liverpool would simply like him to replicate his 14 goals per season from the right flank.
That’s because Liverpool appear to be changing their tactics. Darwin Nunez has arrived as a traditional no.9, meaning the Reds will operate without a False 9 and use their striker as a primary goalscorer. It takes pressure away from the wings for scoring goals and allows them to play more all-around games.
Gnabry has experience playing like that. He offers goals and assists from the flank while the centre-forward – Robert Lewandowski – is the main goal threat. It’s a situation he may walk into at Liverpool.
Liverpool can get Gnabry on a free transfer and have Nunez scoring the majority of their goals. At least, that can be the plan. It’s one that makes sense to us, too, and perhaps offers the best way of replacing Salah’s incredible goal contributions.