Liverpool Struck Out Again in Hunt for Salah's Successor: Who Can the Reds Turn to Now?

Liverpool appear set to miss out on Hoffenheim and Côte d'Ivoire winger Bazoumana Touré, who had been considered as a possible replacement for Mohamed Salah.

After fellow Ivorian prospect Yan Diomande expressed his desire to join Paris Saint-Germain should he depart RB Leipzig this summer, Touré had emerged as a more realistic option. However, reports now indicate the 20-year-old is on his way to Newcastle United instead.

The Athletic reports that Newcastle have "struck a deal" with Hoffenheim for Touré, who is expected to travel to north-east England for a medical now that Côte d'Ivoire has been eliminated from the World Cup.

Touré is more of a creator than Diomande, registering 12 assists in the Bundesliga last season compared to the latter's nine. However, Diomande netted 15 times across all competitions, versus Touré's five. Both operate primarily as left wingers, though it was never going to be a straightforward like-for-like replacement for Salah.

Liverpool have, of course, already completed the signing of Víctor Muñoz from Osasuna for £34.5 million ($46.1 million). The young Spaniard is a versatile winger capable of operating on either side and had, interestingly, also been a target for Newcastle before he chose Anfield.

Alternative Mohamed Salah Replacements Liverpool Could Sign

Even with Muñoz already on board, Liverpool could benefit from further additions as the Reds look to recover from a difficult 2025–26 campaign and navigate life after Salah as seamlessly as possible—even a so-called 'off' season from the Egyptian in his final year still produced 22 goals and assists.

Bradley Barcola being pushed to the fringes at PSG is not a reflection of his ability, but rather the fierce competition he has encountered in the French capital since Désiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia joined the club. Barcola started just 21 Ligue 1 matches last season and slipped into a substitute role after the Champions League round of 16. The situation is only likely to deteriorate should Diomande sign for PSG, which could all point toward an exit for Barcola.

Liverpool wouldn't be the only club interested, as the Frenchman fits the profile that Manchester United are also reportedly targeting. Chelsea have shown interest previously, and Arsenal have scope to strengthen their title-winning squad on the left wing.

The issue is that PSG are reportedly demanding in excess of £116 million ($155.1 million) for Barcola, having taken note of other deals—such as Elliot Anderson—being concluded this summer.

Liverpool might be wise to look at Rayan as an alternative for the position. The Brazilian teenager only arrived at Bournemouth in January but impressed sufficiently in the Premier League over a brief spell to earn a spot in his country's World Cup squad.

The prospect of an immediate reunion with Andoni Iraola should not be overlooked either.

Brighton & Hove Albion's Yankuba Minteh is another name that has been connected with Liverpool, though he represents something of a gamble. There is no question the Gambia international is brimming with potential and has room to develop at just 21 years old, but his goal and assist numbers in a Brighton side that generally performed well last season suggest he still needs more support and time to mature.

Matias Fernandez-Pardo also falls into the high-risk, high-reward category. The 21-year-old Belgian has spent the past two seasons at Lille and has made a number of substitute appearances at the World Cup. Valuations of his transfer fee vary considerably, with various reports citing figures ranging from €30 million (£25.7 million, $34.3 million) to as much as €70 million (£59.9 million, $80.1 million).

The most reliable, albeit short-term, option available to Liverpool could be Jarrod Bowen. The West Ham United skipper, who turns 30 before the close of 2026, has accumulated 119 goals and assists in 238 Premier League appearances. The bulk of those contributions have come since 2021.

The concern is what kind of return Liverpool would receive on their investment and what the player's ceiling looks like at this stage, with Bowen arguably having already passed the peak of his career.

Any player capable of earning a place in France's World Cup squad deserves serious consideration, and Maghnes Akliouche is precisely that. The Monaco winger posted a solid tally of 18 goals and assists across all competitions last season, including four in the Champions League. With just two years remaining on his contract at the principality club, now could be the moment to weigh up his next move.

Mohamed Salah Compared to Replacement Targets

*only played half the 2025–26 season