Former Liverpool man says Reds already have perfect Mohamed Salah replacement
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The Reds are believed to be in the market for a new right-sided winger in the transfer market, but one ex-Red claims that a player already at the club can replace Salah's goalscoring exploitsJason McAteer has claimed Alexander Isak can be Mohamed Salah's replacement at Liverpool next season(Image: Getty images)Alexander Isak must “believe” he has the capability to replace Mohamed Salah as Liverpool’s chief goalscorer, claims one former Red.The striker scored his fourth Liverpool goal on Saturday in what has been a stop-start campaign following his record-breaking $169 million move from Newcastle United last summer. That was his first home Premier League goal for the Reds, and there were signs of improvement from the Swede, who won 50 percent of his duels in the 3-1 win over Crystal Palace.With Salah leaving at the end of the season, the Reds will need to replace his insatiable flow of goals next term, and Isak is the obvious solution.READ MORE: Alexander Isak knows significance of Crystal Palace goal after Liverpool injury nightmareREAD MORE: Alexander Isak names 'brilliant' Liverpool player who took his chance perfectly for Arne SlotWhile his goalscoring exploits at Newcastle suggest he is capable of burdening such responsibilities, little from his first campaign at Anfield would support that view.However, former Liverpool midfielder Jason McAteer has said transitioning between club legends is woven into the club’s long history, and is something the current iteration must achieve with Isak.“You look at Kenny [Dalglish], Robbie [Fowler], Michael Owen took that for a little bit then it’s [Fernando] Torres, [Luis] Suarez, we’ve always had that superstar and Mo Salah’s been it for the last seven years,” McAteer told the club’s official podcast.Isak scored his first home league goal for Liverpool on Saturday“That tradition carries weight.
The next figurehead must navigate both, balancing performance with presence, production with personality.“There is a space for that, we do need that player, it’s great for the club, great for everything around the business of the club, why not Isak?“But he’s got to believe it. He’s got to believe that: ‘I’m the man here.
I’m the man and I’m going to be Keegan, Dalglish, I’m going to be that person’.”Despite McAteer’s claims, Virgil van Dijk said that he is “fully confident” Isak has a bright future ahead of him at Anfield.Van Dijk has backed Isak to enjoy an impressive second season at Liverpool(Image: (Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images))“Now he is fit and we all know what he can bring and he shows it in training and in games as well,” the club captain said after Saturday’s win.“We are happy and I am pleased with him and the work he puts in and am fully confident it will be absolutely fine for him.“What I’ve seen of him, everyone knows and sees and experiences as team-mates how outstanding he is. We want more than goals from him and that’s what he can bring and he just has to keep going and keep working, keep staying fit and keep staying important for the football club because I think he will and he already is.”