Liverpool transfers: Reds could trigger £42m clause to replace Mo Salah

Liverpool could replace Mo Salah for just £42m this summer, according to a new report. The Reds may move on from their superstar forward.

Journalist Dean Jones claims Liverpool are considering a move for Nico Williams this summer. The Spaniard would replace Mohamed Salah, who is linked with Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia.

Salah was the subject of an enormous offer last summer, of course, only for Liverpool to reject it. It’s been expected ever since that the Saudi Pro League would be back in 2024, though.

And if that is the case, the Reds could turn to Williams. He’s an academy product of Athletic Bilbao and helped them to their first major domestic trophy in 40 years this week as he played all 120 minutes in the Copa del Rey final.

Williams has long been linked with a move away from Bilbao, including to Liverpool. This could be the summer, writes Jones in Sportslens.

The 21-year-old has a release clause in his contract of around £42m - potentially a bargain if Liverpool believe he could replace Salah. Williams is reportedly ‘open’ to a move to the Premier League, too, though he remains committed to Athletic.

In other words, he’s not going to push for a move and it will take triggering that clause to get him. The Reds, however, may fancy doing just that.

Nico Williams to Liverpool?

Williams has been a name linked with Liverpool for years - ever since he first broke in at Athletic, really. He’s blossomed into a fantastic player and one that almost certainly interests the Reds.

But he’s be a risk, if only because he’s never shown the ability to deliver like Salah does. But can anyone? The Egyptian is pretty comfortably the best right-sided forward on the planet and Liverpool will have to take a risk in one sense or another to replace him.

Maybe that’s financial or maybe, as with Williams, is about believing the potential is there and it just needs moulding. Including a change in his primary position.

If Liverpool believe it’s possible, then £42m is a steal. They’ve taken risks like this before that have paid off - what’s another one?