Liverpool's Record-Breaking Quest: Replacing Salah with a Sky-High Summer Bet

Overview

Egyptian star Mohamed Salah is set to depart Liverpool at the end of this season. A British newspaper report on Thursday claimed Liverpool are ready to break their summer transfer record to sign Salah's replacement. Salah himself has said this season will be his last at Anfield, and the club has begun focusing on who will take his place, with two months left before the window.

The hunt for a replacement and the record bid

This move fits the club's long-term plan to stay competitive on all fronts after losing a key attacking player. The Sun reported Liverpool are willing to pay a club-record 173 million pounds to land Salah's replacement. Michael Olise, 24, a French international winger at Bayern Munich, is on Liverpool's radar as they prepare a tough bid before the summer window.

Bayern insist he is not for sale, despite a sensational season in which he has notched 16 goals and 27 assists in 39 appearances. Max Eberl, Bayern's sporting director, told Bild that they are not thinking about it as Olise remains a Bayern Munich player and has all the opportunities big players here want. He also noted there is no release clause in Olise's contract, which he signed after joining Crystal Palace last summer for 52 million pounds.

The Bavarians are not rushing to lose him, with the forward's deal running until 2029. Nevertheless, Liverpool remain prepared to smash their own record to land Olise. Liverpool had already broken their transfer record twice last summer by signing Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak. Wirtz was signed for 116.5 million pounds from Bayer Leverkusen, followed by Isak from Newcastle for 130 million, still the highest fee ever paid in the Premier League.

Read also: Carragher to Salah: your career would end the moment you head to Saudi Arabia.