Richard Hughes must be bold and axe Mohamed Salah in swap deal with Real Madrid

Liverpool have been at the centre of attention for some time now.

The reigning Premier League champions had a crazily busy summer transfer window with most people thinking that they'd had one of the best windows ever.

However, that couldn't be further from the truth with most of the Reds' first-team failing to perform to the standards expected of them.

Indeed, there were a couple of transfer targets who they missed out on that could've made a massive difference but with the quality they have among their ranks, they should be much higher in the Premier League table than ninth.

But, with Mohamed Salah's recent outburst still fresh in the memory, it feels like his time with the club could be coming to an end.

At the start of the season, this would've been a rather worrying prospect but with the recent transfer rumours that have emerged, Liverpool may have already found their replacement for the Egyptian King.

Liverpool could end up signing Rodrygo as part of a swap deal for Mohamed Salah

After Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez were sold in the summer, rumours about potential wingers joining Liverpool were rife.

Rodrygo was one of the main targets suggested for Liverpool and now, as per a report from Fichajes, it seems like those rumours could be revisited.

Real Madrid are interested in acquiring the services of Salah and since the La Liga outfit haven't used Rodrygo all that much this term, a swap deal could be on the cards.

This move would make plenty of sense for both parties with each getting the exact type of player they want.

It's clear that the bridges between Salah and Arne Slot have been broken and, when January comes around, it feels like FSG will be given the impossible choice of choosing between the Dutchman and the Egyptian.

However, if the option of Rodrygo making an Anfield switch becomes viable, that could end up making the choice much easier.

Richard Hughes must try and figure out how to make a swap deal work

After spending over £400 million in the summer, Richard Hughes was lauded for the moves he made to improve Liverpool's ranks.

If we're being honest, there's no replacing Salah, no matter how good or bad his recent performances have been.

The Egyptian King is one of the Reds' greatest ever players and even if he does end up exiting in the future, he'll always be remembered as a legend.

However, if he does end up wanting to leave, Liverpool need to make sure that the deal is right for them and that they won't be negatively impacted by his departure.

The best way for them to do this would be to have a replacement already lined up.

There aren't all that many options available on the market to Liverpool at the moment and since they have players such as Florian Wirtz and Federico Chiesa who can be used on the wing if needed, their replacement needs to be someone who makes sense.

This is why, if Salah does choose to leave this season, Hughes must try and get a swap deal in the works with Real Madrid to allow Rodrygo to become a Liverpool player.