Liverpool has ideal Mohamed Salah transfer replacement after Ballon d'Or news

The 30-man shortlist for the 2024 Ballon d’Or has been announced and there are no Liverpool players on it. As the Reds only won the Carabao Cup last season, that seems fair enough.

But then there are six members of England ’s Euro 2024 squad who have been nominated. The Three Lions were deeply unimpressive in reaching the final. Does Declan Rice really deserve to be a nominee? Really?

For the first time since 2003, the list lacks both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. With their days numbered, it’s fair to wonder if Mohamed Salah is the best player in the world. Whatever your view on that, he remains elite and may need replacing by Liverpool next season. The Ballon d’Or list may contain the name for which Richard Hughes is looking.

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The Reds’ sporting director may feel he has a replacement in place already. Liverpool’s sole summer signing who will play for the club immediately is Federico Chiesa . The Italian should contribute plenty to Arne Slot ’s squad this season, but it will also be his first outside of his homeland. He can get up to speed with Premier League life in 2024/25 before becoming the main man on the right flank next season (in theory, at least).

Succession planning with a top squad never ends though. While the above makes sense, Liverpool will need another right forward if Salah goes, unless the brains trust at the club think Ben Doak has developed enough to play the understudy role to Chiesa.

If they don’t, Ballon d’Or nominee Ademola Lookman could be an option. As recently as last month he was being linked with a move to Anfield, with Slot reportedly keen to sign the 26-year-old . It has been rare for players to represent both Everton and the Reds, so could he take over from Conor Coady as the most recent man to do so?

He will only have a year remaining on his contract next summer, albeit Atalanta hold an option for a further 12 months. If that makes a deal feel plausible, Lookman’s statistical profile does too.

According to FBRef’s data , Salah is one of the 10 players classed as an attacking midfielder or winger with whom Lookman has been most similar over the last 365 days. His list also includes Luis Díaz, as well as the likes of Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze and Phil Foden.

On the template for forwards, Cody Gakpo is the second most similar player to the Nigerian international. If Salah leaves Liverpool next summer, the answer to the Reds’ problem could be in Bergamo.