Liverpool are making a move to sign the £87m star

Over the years, Liverpool Football Club has been home to some of the Premier League’s best attacking talents, giving fans memories to last a lifetime.

From Ballon d’Or winners like Michael Owen to the legendary trio of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah – Anfield fans are truly blessed.

However, the latter of the aforementioned trio has become the latest player to leave the Reds, after playing his final game for the club against Brentford on Sunday.

As a result, Arne Slot and the management have an almost impossible task to replace the Egyptian, who scored 257 times for the club, during the next summer window.

The recruitment team will be hunting far and wide in the coming weeks to try and identify top talent who can emulate the 33-year-old’s impact on Merseyside.

Liverpool are making a move to sign the £87m star this summer

In a bid to strengthen Slot’s forward line next campaign, a number of European talents have appeared on Liverpool’s summer transfer shortlist.

PSG star Bradley Barcola has emerged as another target for the Reds in recent days, with Fabrizio Romano saying the club still hold the Frenchman in high regard.

The 23-year-old was a major transfer target last summer, but management could review a potential deal in the coming months – with a £60m fee deferred.

He is not alone on the club’s shortlist ahead of the upcoming window, with RB Leipzig talent Yan Diomande another highly regarded on Merseyside.

According to Romano himself, the Reds have already entered into discussions about the possibility of ending the 19-year-old’s contract during the next window.

He says the men at Slot have presented an offer to the player and his representatives, with a deal worth around €100m (£87m) this summer.

However, Ole Werner’s side are reluctant to lose the Ivory Coast player in this window and offer the striker a new deal – but the decision will be entirely down to the player.

Why Diomande could be Liverpool’s Erling Haaland

In their hunt for Premier League glory in recent seasons, Liverpool have often faced tough tests – none more so than Manchester City and Erling Haaland.

The Norwegian has been one of the club’s most powerful attackers in recent years, after winning the golden boot three times in the last four years.

The 25-year-old’s lowest goal of a season in the Premier League is 22 years, which confirms his incredible ability to find a goal on a regular basis.

Since moving to the Etihad in the summer of 2022, Haaland has scored 162 goals in 198 games – eight of which came in 11 against the Reds.

Their move to Alexander Isak last season is considered to be the one that will protect their City star, but that is possible this summer by looking for Diomande.

Although the Ivorian is more of a threat than a forward, he could emulate Haaland by making a name for himself after being part of the Red Bull project.

The Norwegian played for RB Salzburg in the years leading up to his move to City, with Diomande reaching similar levels in his first season at Leipzig.

He has managed to register an impressive tally of 12 goals and nine assists in the Bundesliga this season, with only five players having registered more goals in the same period.

His incredible form has caught the attention of Liverpool’s elite club, but journalist Graeme Bailey has also sung his praises – calling him “one of the best young talents in the world.”

Apart from his goals, the 19-year-old has also excelled with his dribbling ability – after which he completed 4.3 dribbles per 90 – the highest number of any player in Germany’s top flight.

Other statistics, such as 2.1 chances created in 90 and a 49% shot on target accuracy rate, also highlight his perimeter status in attacking areas – similar to that of Haaland at the Etihad.

£87m would be a huge investment from the Liverpool board again this summer, but it’s a deal that could dampen Salah’s contribution.

His talent is there for all to see, with Slot and his staff capable of taking the Ivorian to the next level in any transfer to Merseyside during the summer window.

Should he reach anywhere near the levels that Haaland have produced in the Premier League, such a deal would be the best for the club and could boost their chances of a trophy in 2026/27.