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Mohamed Salah Told What He Should Do in the Summer as Liverpool Hierarchy Sent Arne Slot Message
Liverpool FC faces a pivotal summer amid uncertainty over Mohamed Salah's future and growing pressure on manager Arne Slot. As Salah enters the final year of his contract, speculation intensifies about a potential departure to Saudi Arabia or Serie A clubs, with Slot publicly stating he has "no reasons" to want the 33-year-old Egyptian star to leave.[2] Despite Salah's restored starting role after earlier tensions, the club is proactively scouting successors.[1][6]
Arne Slot has learned the asking price for RB Leipzig's 19-year-old winger Yan Diomande, a "prolific" talent with 12 goals this season for club and country, including at the Africa Cup of Nations. Diomande's pace, dribbling, and direct style mirror Salah's, making him an ideal long-term replacement. Liverpool scouts have attended his matches, though Manchester United, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich are also interested.[1] Separately, Liverpool eyes Newcastle's Anthony Gordon as another Salah successor in a bold 2026-27 rebuild, alongside a £50m-rated star like Mateus Mane, with the Reds reportedly leading the race despite their sixth-place Premier League standing.[5][6]
The Liverpool hierarchy's message to Slot is clear: Champions League qualification is "absolutely crucial." After winning the title in his debut 2025-26 season, Slot's current campaign has been his toughest, with the team two points behind Chelsea, three behind Manchester United, and eight off Aston Villa. Missing Europe's top competition for the first time in a decade could trigger an end-of-season review of his position, testing the board's loyalty amid a prior four-wins-in-15-games slump that irked Salah.[4]
Internally, whispers of unrest persist—a supposed row with midfielder Curtis Jones has fueled exit rumors, with Tottenham linked, though it's speculative.[3] Salah is advised to stay for European football and prove his worth, but planning without him is underway to bolster firepower after underwhelming seasons from Salah, Gakpo, and others like Chiesa, who may also depart.[5] With 12 games left and key run-ins against top-four rivals, Slot must deliver to secure his future and Salah's commitment.
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