Liverpool identify Mohammed Salah successor as Arne Slot receives boost of £200m transfer kitty

Liverpool will look to improve their squad in the summer by landing Mohammed Salah’s successor, despite the forward’s 2-year contract extension weeks ago.

Liverpool still have plans of finding a suitable profile player who could succeed the Egyptian international, and the Reds are said to have a £200m transfer kitty to make that happen in the summer transfer window.

Despite Salah extending his stay, Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo has been identified as a perfect replacement by the Anfield hierarchy and remains a subject of attention.

Salah was set to be available for free with his deal due to run out in the summer, but went ahead to agree a deal that keeps him at Merseyside for an extra 2 seasons.

Mbeumo’s form this season has seen him become a front-runner in Liverpool’s pursuit to find a replacement. The Brentford ace has scored 18 goals in 33 Premier League appearances this term.

According to The Sun, the Reds will need to make available around £50m to land the Cameroon international, and are reported to face competition from Arsenal and Newcastle.

Mbeumo has one year remaining on his current contract, with an option of a further season with the Bees. The forward, signed from Troyes for £5.8m in 2019, could be seen as a smart replacement for Salah.

Brian Mbuemo has scored 18 goals in 33 Premier League appearances this term (Image credit: Getty Images)

The 25-year-old’s contract situation may see The Bees willing to cash in on him to avoid the player leaving for free.

As such, Liverpool is in a much stronger position now than before after securing Salah’s future for another two seasons to go all out for their target in the summer.

Should the 32-year-old have departed, the Merseyside club may have found itself held to ransom in the transfer market, but they now feel will feel well-placed to complete summer business as they sit on the verge of winning the Premier League.

Regardless, the Premier League top-goal scorer is excited by on-pitch prospects. The winger believes the team can achieve more success in his remaining time at the club.

“Of course I’m very excited,” said Salah. “We have a great team now. Before also we had a great team.

“But I signed because I think we have a chance to win other trophies and enjoy my football. It’s great, I had my best years here. I played eight years, hopefully it’s going to be 10. Enjoying my life here, enjoying my football. I had the best years in my career.

“I would like to say to [the fans], I am very, very happy to be here. I signed here because I believe we can win a lot of big trophies together. Keep supporting us and we’ll give it our best, and hopefully in the future we’re going to win more trophies.”