As Liverpool look to the future amid speculation around Mohamed Salah’s potential departure, the club are trying to identify who could replace him.
The winger is out of contract next summer. Currently, there is no talk to extend the Egyptian’s deal beyond June 2025.
That’s despite him once again being a pivotal part of Liverpool’s attack with 15 goal contributions in 13 appearances across all competitions so far this season.
Should talks remain at a standstill, Salah will be eligible to sign a pre-contract agreement from January 1 meaning the Reds could only have a matter of months to find his replacement.
Now, it is believed that Liverpool have drawn up a three-man shortlist of potential heirs.
One of Liverpool’s recent acquisitions is already preparing to leave the club as early as the January transfer window.
Federico Chiesa appeared delighted to sign on the dotted line for the Reds at the end of August, but now just mere months into the season he is already being linked with a move away from Anfield, barely having arrived in the first place.
The annual event that the Ballon d’Or has come to be speaks of the continuing importance of individuals in a team sport.
This year it was expected that Vinicius Junior would take the trophy home. Real Madrid’s players and officials then declined to attend in protest at the award having gone to Manchester City’s Rodri instead.
Only last week, Trent Alexander-Arnold was saying in an interview with Sky Sports’ Harriet Prior that he wants to be the first full-back to ever with the Ballon d’Or because he truly believes he can.
And with the ongoing rumours that he may be eyeing up a move to Real Madrid as his Liverpool contract expires at the end of the season, part of this mindset may be that the move would make winning the honour more likely.
