‘What a talent’ – Liverpool have identified Mohamed Salah’s ‘long-term replacement’
Liverpool want 17-year-old forward Rio Ngumoha to eventually become the next Mohamed Salah of the team.
That is according to ex-Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, with Salah expected to leave Liverpool in the summer.
Salah has been heavily linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, and the 33-year-old has not hit the form of previous seasons at Anfield.
Whilst Salah has started every game since his return from the African Cup of Nations, the Egyptian may still have a fractured relationship with manager Arne Slot after claiming he had been “thrown under the bus” following a game at Leeds in December.
Rio Ngumoha the ‘heir’ to Mohamed Salah
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that Ngumoha is the “future” of Liverpool.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness thinks Salah is “looking at his options” to leave the club.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “I think it’s very clear he’s the ideal long-term replacement for Salah. I think the youth and energy that he showed was certainly promising and also the fact they just settled his whole deal after the appeal from Chelsea etc.
“I think he’s settled, I think he enjoys his football and I think the fans love him and can see the future as well. I think there’s no doubt that Liverpool were very lucky at the weekend. Nottingham Forest did deserve a bit more than that loss, but it’s still a loss and when you’re down there those things count even more.
“There’s no momentum to get them going from. But in terms of Liverpool, yes, I think he is the future and I think Mo Salah must be looking at his options right now. I think he is nowhere near the Mo of last year, and we all seem to agree now that he should have gone at the end of last year.
“But this does look like the heir apparent. He’s a young, exciting talent and certainly there are a lot of changes in the Liverpool squad this season, but he’s one that does show promise.”
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Liverpool keeping tabs on young sensation
RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande could be a target for Liverpool in the summer transfer window following an excellent first season at the Bundesliga club.
The 19-year-old has eight goals and five assists in 22 Bundesliga appearances this season, which has caught the attention of many European clubs.
RB Leipzig may demand up to £70million for a player they only signed from Leganes for £17m less than a year ago.