Liverpool have transfer trick up their sleeve as 'Mo Salah successor' identified

Mohamed Salah may still be at the peak of his powers for Liverpool but that hasn't stopped the Premier League champions from casting their eye toward his possible successor

Succession planning has been firmly in the minds of the Liverpool boardroom and they're reportedly targeting Bayern Munich's Michael Olise as Mohamed Salah's eventual replacement. The Reds could also have a trick up their sleeve to ensure a deal goes through without a hitch next year too: their healthy relationship with Bayern.

After a three-season stint at Crystal Palace, where he scored 16 goals and registered 25 assists, Olise joined Bayern in the summer of July 2024 for an initial £45million. The move turned heads with the 23-year-old also courting significant interest from several Premier League clubs, including Manchester United.

While he saw his career progressing better elsewhere, Liverpool are now actively looking to bring Olise back to English shores next summer, claim the Daily Mail. Should Arne Slot and the Reds hierarchy decide to act on their interest, their strong ties with Bayern could be a huge factor in enabling smooth negotiations for the right winger.

The Anfield outfit have dealt with Bayern on various deals in recent years, reinforcing their strong relations. In the past 11 years, the two clubs have thrashed out deals for five players.

Liverpool have sold three players to the Germans since 2014 with Pepe Reina, Sadio Mane, and most recently Luis Diaz all moving from Merseyside to Bavaria. The Reds bought Ryan Gravenberch from the Bundesliga side in 2023, and three years before that signed Thiago Alcantara from them too.

Prior to those deals, Liverpool also purchased Markus Babble and Alou Diarra from the German giants in 2000 and 2002 respectively. The allure of an easy negotiation will be hugely appealing for the Reds' following their summer-long and highly-complicated pursuit of Alexander Isak from Newcastle.

Liverpool's failed move for Palace captain Marc Guehi, which collapsed at the last minute following protracted talks this summer, may also haunt the Merseyside club when it comes to any future transfer dealings. There's no question that Salah is still operating at a high-level in his advanced years.

The Egyptian star bagged 34 goals last year on the way to helping secure the Reds' 20th top-flight title and won the PFA Players' Player of The Year, making him the first player in history to win the award three times, having also won it in 2018 and 2022. However, Salah is 33 and Liverpool have shown they are pivoting towards forging a younger frontline following their summer acquisitions of Isak, 25, Florian Wirtz, 22, and Hugo Ekitike, 23.

It appears Olise has been a target for the Reds for some time too. Ex-Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp once gave away that he was scouting the Frenchman during the 2021/22 season.

Klopp claimed he watched Palace's 0-0 draw with Manchester City for 65 minutes due to "analysis reasons." However, Olise was brought off in the 65th minute at Selhurst Park, making it fairly obvious who he had his eye on.

It's no secret that Liverpool are now looking at the long-term health of the club all over the pitch. Italian centre back Giovanni Leoni, 18, joined this summer from Parma for £26m, while the club's chase of Palace star Guehi also indicates they are considering life beyond club captain Virgil van Dijk, 34.

New signing Milos Kerkez, 21, has taken 31-year-old left-back Andy Robertson's spot in the first XI. Georgian keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, 24, who signed from Valencia, is now looking to rival Alisson Becker, 32, as the club's No. 1.

Salah joined Liverpool from Roma in 2017 and is now the club's third-highest ever scorer with 246 goals. He signed a new two-year deal in April. The 33-year-old is also tied for fourth with Andy Cole in the Premier League all-time scoring charts at 187 and is 10th in assists with 88.

His relentless eye to scale these tables to the very top will arguably prevent Liverpool from replacing him anytime soon. Yet Olise, who has kickstarted this season with three goals in two games for Bayern, and has 24 goals and 23 assists in his time in Germany already, could be a good bet to carry on the Egyptian's mantle.