Liverpool learn impossible Salah transfer verdict as Arne Slot gives update

Liverpool face a major challenge this summer as Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson prepare to leave the club, and Arne Slot has a mountain to climb in replacing both

Dominic Matteo believes Liverpool will find it incredibly difficult to replace both Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson this summer, as Arne Slot outlined his contingency plans at full-back. Salah confirmed during the March international break that 2025/26 will be his final season at Liverpool.

At 33, the news of his impending exit had felt inevitable for some time, yet finding a player capable of filling the void he leaves behind remains an enormous challenge. The Egyptian has racked up 256 goals and 122 assists in 438 appearances for the Reds, playing a crucial role in their two Premier League titles and Champions League triumph in 2018/19.

Robertson, meanwhile, also confirmed he will depart the club this summer, drawing the curtain on a remarkable nine-year spell at Anfield, during which he enjoyed the same trophy success as Salah. With two pivotal players needing to be replaced in the coming months, alongside other areas requiring attention, Slot faces a demanding summer ahead.

And according to Matteo, the Dutchman may be facing an almost impossible task in that respect. Speaking to the ECHO via BetSelect.co.uk, the 51-year-old said: "Somebody like [Gabriel] Gudmundsson at Leeds [could be a target], but not him, because he'll be staying at Leeds.

"But that type, someone who can defend but can also get forward, because that's the modern-day full-back now. In my day, if you got forward four or five times, you were doing well, because it was the midfielders that were dominant. Now it's all about the full-backs.

"Salah is irreplaceable with the numbers he's got and what he's achieved, but they'll have to find someone. Looking at players in the Premier League now, there's no one who's been as good as Salah.

"Maybe someone who's younger might get to that level. When I look at clubs like Arsenal, you've got people like [Bukayo] Saka. I'm not saying Liverpool are going to get Saka, but they need someone like that who can play in that wide area and bring goals.

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"There are so many players at Paris Saint-Germain that I'd like to get. Can we go and get [Ousmane] Dembele? That'd be all right."

Liverpool witnessed Dembele's devastating qualities first-hand on Tuesday evening, when the PSG attacker netted twice against them in the Champions League quarter-finals to knock them out of the competition in a crushing 4-0 aggregate defeat. Whether the Ligue 1 giants will be prepared to sell the Ballon d'Or winner, and whether the Reds would be willing to meet what would be an astronomical transfer fee for the Frenchman, remains to be seen.

Regarding Robertson, Slot confirmed on Friday morning that Kostas Tsimikas will head back to Merseyside this summer after a productive season-long spell with Roma. That will offer additional cover for Liverpool heading into the new campaign following Robertson's departure.

The Dutchman said: "Last year we made quite a lot of signings and that's why we traded that much. In four windows had net spend of £150million. That says what kind of club we are.

"We know we are changing at least two players, but Kostas is coming back. First aim is to see how we react in position of Mo whether we want to replace with similar player or do that differently.

"At this moment of time there's not a chance of a lot of players leaving. Of course there's Ibou [Konate] contract situation. There might not be a need to train a lot if you don't need to bring a lot of players in."

It comes as Konate's contract with the club also expires this summer, which means Liverpool will need to recruit a new starting centre-back if they cannot agree fresh terms. While the Reds signed Giovanni Leoni last summer, the 19-year-old hasn't featured for the side since sustaining an ACL injury on his debut back in September.

And with Virgil van Dijk also approaching the latter stages of his career at 34, Liverpool would be sensible to prepare for the future this summer.