Most of the chatter surrounding Liverpool football club has not focused on the club’s upcoming box-office fixtures against Real Madrid in the Champions League and Manchester City in the Premier League.
Instead, the conversation around the Reds mostly revolves around whether Mohamed Salah will sign a new contract. He fueled the fire with an interesting postgame interview following the club’s 3-2 victory over Southampton on Sunday.
Liverpool will likely look to sign a replacement on the right wing should Salah join a new club next summer. While the Reds are certainly happy with their current crop of attacking talents, the club’s front office has begun lining up alternatives if the star Egyptian were to leave.
Here is the Liverpool.com verdict on the transfer gossip to emerge around the Reds today focusing on a pair of potential incomings:
Mohammed Kudus (West Ham)
24-year-old right winger Mohammed Kudus has been linked with a move to the Reds several times over the last few years, including when the talented left-footer was at Ajax.
Footballing Insider is linking the Ghanaian international with a move to Anfield as a ‘box-office’ Salah replacement. Kudus won’t come cheap: the player was revealed to have a £85 million ($107 million) release clause in his contract.
He tallied eight goals and six assists in his debut campaign with West Ham last year. His real skill in his dribbling: Kudus ranked in the 99th percentile of Europe’s top-five leagues with 4.18 successful take-ons per 90 minutes over the last 365 days.
Liverpool.com says: While Kudus might come with a crazy price tag, he might be the most Premier League-proven talent Liverpool could access. He does profile awfully similarly to Luis Diaz and the Reds may be better suited targeting a strong passer, but the Ghanian would be a solid option if the Reds could get him under £60 million ($75 million).
Rodrygo (Real Madrid)
Spanish outlet Fichajes is reporting that Liverpool are monitoring Real Madrid’s 23-year-old Rodrygo. The Brazilian winger joined the Spanish giants for a reported €45 million ($47 million) from Santos in 2018 when he was just 17.
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He is currently out with a muscle strain under December and will miss his side’s trip to Anfield on Wednesday. Last season, Rodrygo finished with 15 goal involvements in the league.
While Rodrygo is a left winger by trade, he’s been shoehorned onto the right due to Madrid’s recent acquisition of Kylian Mbappe. The right-footer has played on both sides during his time in Spain
Liverpool.com says: Rodrygo still has over three left on his contract and could command a triple-digit transfer fee. His output isn’t amazing considering he plays in one of the most formidable front lines in the world. The fact he’s right-footed should be the final nail in the Rodrygo coffin for the Reds.
