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Ex-Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp has advised the Reds against seeking a like-for-like successor to Mohamed Salah, calling the Egyptian forward "irreplaceable."
Salah is set to depart Liverpool this summer after cementing his legacy as one of the greatest players in both club history and the broader Premier League era. His exit on a free transfer means Liverpool will receive no transfer fee for the loss of their third-highest scorer of all time.
Acknowledging the near-impossibility of finding a true Salah replacement, Klopp offered his former club some unexpected counsel: don't even attempt it.
"This type of player simply cannot be replaced," Klopp said during an appearance at the LFC Foundation. "I'm not even sure another one like him exists anywhere.
"There are other players operating on that flank with their own strengths and attributes, but the numbers Mo puts up... they are unrivaled from that position. The statistics for a winger are extraordinary. For a striker, they are virtually unmatched. So if it's impossible, why even attempt it?
"It's not my place to advise anyone, but simply bring players in and play the style of football that can bring success.
"We lost Sadio Mané. What a player he was. Bobby Firmino, oh my God. The day Gini [Georginio Wijnaldum] left, probably none of you thought: 'That's a huge loss,' until he was gone and then you realized: 'Oh! He was the perfect blend of technique, power and tactical discipline.'
"Then Hendo [Jordan Henderson] departed, Milly [James Milner] moved on, but new players arrived. That's just how football works. Don't chase shadows. Find a new path and play."
Liverpool's Alternative Salah Replacements
Klopp's perspective naturally carries significant influence at Anfield and may well be sound advice, given Liverpool's tactical difficulties throughout this campaign.
Rather than pursuing a new marquee right-sided attacker, Liverpool could choose to work with the options already at their disposal. Florian Wirtz has shown real quality out wide this season, and a permanent move to that role could allow a long-term partnership with attacking midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai — the standout performer of the season — to develop further.
Liverpool may be better served strengthening in other areas of the pitch. On the left flank, there are genuine concerns about the depth available to Slot, while central midfield has also been a persistent weak point throughout the season.
If Liverpool recruit smartly this summer and build a more cohesive squad overall, supporters will not fixate on individual stars. Fans would welcome another winger capable of netting 30 goals a season, but they would gladly forgo that if it meant competing for Premier League and Champions League titles once more — especially with talismanic striker Alexander Isak expected to return from injury in the near future.
Liverpool would also be well-advised to take the pressure off any new attacking signings, who will inevitably be seen as Salah's successors regardless of their actual role. That weight of expectation will almost certainly be impossible to live up to.