Liverpool are now plotting a transfer swoop for a “fantastic” 19 year-old forward who could be a long-term replacement for Mohamed Salah, according to a new report.
Liverpool extend Premier League lead to 13 points
It was another routine win for Arne Slot’s side on Wednesday night, as goals, surprisingly not from Salah, but from Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister saw Liverpool run out 2–0 winners and extend their lead to 13 points with 10 games left to play. That means they can now conceivably win the Premier League against Tottenham Hotspur on the 26th of April, with four games left to play.
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Liverpool beat Newcastle at Anfield to stretch their title lead to 13 points.
Despite the healthy lead and the short number of games left to play, Slot believes there is still a long way to go and is taking it game by game): “It is still a long way to go, ten games. In March, we only play one Premier League game; then we have the cup final, of course, and an international break, and then two big games against Paris Saint-Germain – so we are not focused on the long term.
“I know, and the players know how difficult the Champions League game is going to be – they are in the same form as us, hardly lose. It is going to be a difficult task for both teams. Now the players have some days off, and then we focus on PSG more than we do on the table in the Premier League.”
Liverpool eye move for “fantastic” Salah successor
But as the Reds get closer to securing that Premier League title, focus may start switching to the summer, and according to Caught Offside, Liverpool are keeping a close eye on teenager Assane Diao after his recent performances in Italy.
The report states that Liverpool’s interest in Diao comes as the future of Salah at Anfield is still very uncertain. There is a likelihood that the Egyptian leaves in the summer when his contract expires, and that would leave Liverpool very light in that area of the team. Therefore, the club are actively looking at possible short and long-term replacements, and Diao has emerged as a possible target.
The 19-year-old, who has been described as “fantastic” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig in the past, plays for Italian side Como, joining Cesc Fabregas’ side January and kicking on another gear under the Spaniard.
|
Apps |
8 |
|
Starts |
7 |
|
Goals |
5 |
|
xG |
1.74 |
|
Shots per game |
2.0 |
|
Chance conversion |
31% |
|
Key passes per game |
0.4 |
|
Succ. Dribbles per game |
1.0 (35%) |
|
Duels won per game |
6.8 (42%) |
The Spanish under-19 international decided to join Como in the New Year, and it is a move that has paid off, scoring five goals in eight Serie A games. Diao has started all but one game, operating as a right and left-winger. The forward has scored three goals in the last three consecutive games against Juventus, Fiorentina, and Napoli, and those performances have now put him on the radar of Liverpool.
It’s unclear how much he could cost the Reds, but Como paid a record fee of €12 million, so they are expected to want more than that in any departure.
