Mohamed Salah branded 'egotistical' as Liverpool learn 'dream' transfer replacement

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Liverpool Echo IconSportFootballLiverpool FCFormer Liverpool defender Markus Babbel brands Mohamed Salah "egotistical" and names the dream replacement - if the Egyptian is to leave in the January transfer windowFormer Liverpool defender Markus Babbel has criticised "egotistical" Mohamed Salah for speaking out against the club earlier this month.And the 2001 treble winner says Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise will be the ideal solution for the Reds if Salah departs at the midway point of his ninth season on Merseyside next month.Salah started three successive games on the bench for Arne Slot prior to last week's trip to Inter in the Champions League, which he was left out for after claiming he had been "thrown under the bus" by the club due to the difficult run the Premier League champions had been experiencing.READ MORE: Virgil van Dijk uses Ibrahima Konate as 'example' in clear point on Liverpool improvementREAD MORE: Dominik Szoboszlai injury could prove to be blessing for Liverpool amid ban threatAfter being dropped from the squad that flew to Italy for the 1-0 win at Inter last Tuesday, Salah held clear-the-air talks with head coach Slot on Friday and returned as a first-half substitute on Saturday as the Reds beat Brighton 2-0 to extend their unbeaten run to five games across all competitions.Salah's outspoken interview has been the talk of football since it emerged at Elland Road after the 3-3 draw with Leeds and Babbel, who played 60 times as Gerard Houllier's men won the FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup in 2001, thinks the Egyptian may now force through a January transfer.“I think Mohamed Salah may still leave Liverpool in January,” Babbel told Poker Scout.“This is what I don’t understand with Salah – when Liverpool were struggling, you never heard a word from him and he was never speaking about the team, but now something has happened with him personally, he’s spoken out to the media.“This is what I don’t like about him. He’s a fantastic player and a legend of Liverpool, but he’s very egotistical.

He’s not thinking about the team or the club – he’s just thinking about himself."This is not what Liverpool are about, and that’s the reason why I think he will leave the club.”Babbel, whose Anfield career was impacted by a diagnosis of Guillan-Barre Syndrome, which affects the nervous system, says Bayern star Olise is the perfect replacement for Salah, if the legendary forward does move away. Babbel added: “Michael Olise would be my dream signing for Liverpool if Mohamed Salah left in January."He’s by far the best player in the Bundesliga – he’s been unbelievable for Bayern Munich this season."Liverpool’s style of play would be a perfect fit for him and he would suit that position on the right wing very well.“I don’t see Bayern selling him at all because they’re so happy with him, but if something were to happen, then Olise would be a brilliant signing.”