Liverpool plan to REPLACE Mo Salah this summer

With Mohamed Salah’s future tied to Liverpool until 2027, it was speculated that Liverpool would seek to invest elsewhere in the team this summer.

The 32-year-old looks set to reign on Merseyside for another two years, lessening the need to find a right-winger in the upcoming window.

READ MORE: Liverpool still deciding on Trent Alexander-Arnold CASH-IN

That, in turn, would allow sporting director Richard Hughes and head coach Arne Slot to turn their attentions to left-back, centre-forward and centre-back for upgrades.

READ MORE: Liverpool have already signed next Mo Salah for NOTHING

However, based on the latest reports, it would appear that Liverpool are still planning on adding a right-sided attacking option in the transfer window.

Not only is Salah getting on in age - and suffering a slight dip in form over the last couple of months - the two-time African footballer of the year also has international commitments.

Salah's AFCON commitments

The forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations tournament could mean Salah missing up to TEN Liverpool games should Egypt go far. And don’t forget it was a hamstring injury suffered at AFCON last year which derailed Salah’s season.

There is always a risk that Salah suffers a downturn in the aftermath of the games.

Accordingly, the Reds will press on with their plan to sign a new right-winger. That’s according to Lewis Steele in the Daily Mail, who writes that it is a “must” for the Reds to sign a Salah successor in the summer window.

“Liverpool will have to plan for life without Mohamed Salah next season despite the fact the Egyptian has signed a new two-year deal,” he writes.

"This is because of the month-long Africa Cup of Nations which runs from December 21 until January 18. If Egypt were to do well, that would see Salah miss a fair chunk of Liverpool games.

Signing a Salah replacement 'a must'

“Going off this term's fixtures, missing those dates would have seen Salah absent for eight matches - probably 10 if you factor in that he would be arriving a few days earlier and having some time off afterwards.

“There are a lot of 'ifs', 'buts' and 'maybes' involved but given the star man will be absent for such a significant part of the season, it feels like a must for Liverpool to sign a capable deputy this summer.”

Among the candidates tipped to arrive are Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo and Real Sociedad’s Takefusa Kubo.

READ MORE: Star now ready for Liverpool offer as release clause TRIGGERS

Mbeumo, 25, could be available for around £50m following another solid season while 23-year-old Kubo is reported to have handed in a transfer request and has got a release clause for around the same price.