Liverpool set sights on 21-yr-old replacing Mohamed Salah as talks held – sources
Liverpool are interested in signing PSV winger Johan Bakayoko this summer as a long-term replacement for Mohamed Salah.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed that Bakayoko has been on the club’s radar for a while and there is belief they could secure his signature for “a decent fee”.
Bakayoko, 21, is expected to be named in Belgium’s squad for Euro 2024, and will look to enhance his reputation with impressive performances at the tournament.
Football Insider reported last summer that the winger was of interest to both Tottenham and Brentford, although a deal never materialised, giving him another year to hone his craft as Liverpool watched on.
With talks expected to be held over the future of Salah in the coming weeks, as revealed by Football Insider, a move for his replacement in Bakayoko is potentially now on the cards.
Liverpool want to sign Johan Bakayoko from PSV
Bakayoko has made 48 appearances for PSV this season across all competitions, scoring 14 goals and providing 14 assists, with one of each coming in eight Champions League appearances.
He joined PSV from Anderlecht and under-17 level before progressing through the academy and going on to win one Eredivisie title, two Dutch Cups and two Dutch Super Cups.
Aged just 21, he has already been capped 11 times by Belgium, scoring one goal and featuring in ten of their last 12 games. He remained on the bench in the 2-2 draw with England at Wembley.
The future of Salah, meanwhile, has been a talking point at Liverpool since interest from Saudi Arabia emerged, and with the departure of Jurgen Klopp, major changes are taking place at Anfield.
Football Insider was told by sources that Liverpool are braced for a £150million transfer offer this summer, with the bidding set to begin at the £100million mark.
Salah is seen as the potential poster boy of the Saudi Pro League, despite Cristiano Ronaldo’s presence, with money no object.
In other news, Chelsea’s managerial search is now a two-horse race.
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