Richard Hughes puts three forwards on shortlist to replace Mo Salah

Mohamed Salah is leaving Liverpool at the end of the season.

Despite his contract running until 2027 - worth a reported £400k per week - the Egyptian King has reached an agreement that will see him depart a year before that.

Salah has been beneath his best this season thus far - leading to speculation that the club would seek to cut ties at the end of the season.

It’s no surprise that the 33-year-old will head for the exit - but it is somewhat eyebrow-raising that sporting director Richard Hughes will bank no transfer fee.

There will be little opportunity therefore for the Premier League champions to plough any proceeds into a deal to fund a replacement.

But that doesn’t mean Reds’ recruiters are not looking.

Diomande, Barcola and Olise in the frame

Having spent over £300m on new central forward options last summer - on Hugo Ekitike, Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz - Liverpool will now concentrate on the wings.

Even before Salah’s departure was announced it was taken as a given that there would be new wide attackers in the conversation - amid doubts over Salah’s output and that of Cody Gakpo.

Salah’s announcement brings us one step closer to finding a successor on the right side of attack. And trusted reporter Lewis Steele has now stated who will be on Arne Slot and Richard Hughes’ hit-list come the end of the season.

“RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande is a name that has been floating around for months and the winger has recently attempted to change agencies,” he report reads.

“Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola was offered to them last year, while fans like the idea of Bayern Munich superstar Michael Olise, though he would be far from cheap and maybe unattainable.”

Olise the dream target

Diomande, 19, is valued at £87m by his current employers - and can play either side of attack. He is under contract until 2030 which puts the Red Bulls in cruise control when it comes to deciding his future.

Barcola has had a bit more of a stop-start season this term at PSG compared to previous campaigns. He too can play either side and could be an achievable transfer with his contract running out in 2028.

Olise is the dream and stylistically the most logical successor to Salah. But the 24-year-old Frenchman has taken his game to another level at Bayern and could be worth anything up to £175m.

Bayern want to extend his contract from its current expiry date of 2029 - and Liverpool will be joined in their interest by Real Madrid.

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