Liverpool Target Two Different Wingers as Salah Succession Plan Takes Shape

Liverpool have opened talks with representatives of both Yan Diomande and Bradley Barcola as the club prepares for life after salah" class="entity-link entity-link--player">Mohamed Salah, with transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirming active negotiations are underway for summer moves.

The dual pursuit reveals Liverpool's recognition that replacing a player who has delivered 25+ goals per season consistently requires more than one solution.

Why Liverpool Need Two Players to Replace One Salah

Salah's numbers tell the story. The Egyptian has been Liverpool's primary attacking threat for seven seasons, contributing goals and assists at a rate few players in world football can match.

With his contract expiring in 2025 and no renewal agreed, Liverpool face the reality of replacing not just a player, but an entire attacking system built around one man's output.

The Mathematics of Replacing Elite Production

Consider what Liverpool must replace: Salah's positional versatility, his pressing intensity, his goal threat from wide areas, and his ability to create for teammates.

No single player in world football offers all these qualities at Salah's level, which explains why Liverpool are casting their net wide.

Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool are both in talks with Yan Diomande's camp over move this summer. Decision up to Diomandé but also RB Leipzig after they had offered new deal + release clause.

Romano's update confirms Liverpool aren't alone in recognising the need for multiple solutions. PSG's involvement in the Diomande pursuit while Liverpool eye their player Barcola shows how Europe's elite clubs are thinking similarly about squad building.

Diomande vs Barcola: Different Solutions to the Same Problem

The profiles of Liverpool's two targets reveal contrasting philosophies for the post-Salah era.

Diomande: The Direct Replacement

Yan Diomande offers the closest stylistic match to Salah's current role:

• Natural right winger who cuts inside onto his stronger foot
• 13 goals and 10 assists in 36 appearances this season
• Explosive acceleration that suits Liverpool's counter-pressing system
• Clinical finishing from wide positions

The Ivorian represents continuity, a player who could slot into Salah's position without requiring significant tactical adjustments from Arne Slot.

Barcola: The System Evolution

Bradley Barcola suggests a different future:

• Left-sided operator offering tactical flexibility across the front three
• 13 goals and 7 assists in 48 appearances
• Creative dribbler focused on stretching defences
• Greater emphasis on chance creation than direct scoring

The PSG forward would require Liverpool to redistribute their goal threat across multiple players rather than relying on one dominant scorer.

The Competition Factor

Liverpool face obstacles in both pursuits. RB Leipzig have offered Diomande a new contract with a release clause, attempting to maintain control over any summer departure.

Meanwhile, prising Barcola from PSG would require convincing the French champions to sell a key player to a direct Champions League rival.

The Real Question: Can Either Handle Being 'The Next Salah'?

Beyond tactics and statistics lies the psychological challenge. Liverpool's next right winger won't just replace Salah on the teamsheet; they'll inherit the weight of following a Premier League icon.

The pressure destroyed previous 'next big things' at clubs across Europe. Think of every Manchester United winger tagged as 'the next Ronaldo' or Barcelona's failed attempts to replace Messi.

Why Young Players Might Be the Answer

Liverpool's pursuit of players aged 23 (Diomande) and 22 (Barcola) aligns with FSG's preference for younger talents with resale value.

But there's another advantage: neither player carries the burden of established reputations that might crumble under Anfield's expectations.

Liverpool are also looking at PSG winger Bradley Barcola, who has been linked with Liverpool in the past as well.

Romano's confirmation of Liverpool's longstanding interest in Barcola suggests this isn't panic buying but strategic planning.

The Proven Performer Alternative

Critics will question whether Liverpool should target established stars instead. Players like Bukayo Saka or Khvicha Kvaratskhelia offer proven Premier League or Champions League pedigree.

Yet those players command fees exceeding £100 million and arrive with their own pressures. Liverpool's approach of identifying emerging talents before they reach that valuation tier has delivered success with players like jota" class="entity-link entity-link--player">Diogo Jota and Luis Díaz.

What Happens Next

Liverpool's summer transfer window will hinge on these negotiations. With both Diomande and Barcola attracting interest from PSG, the Reds must move decisively to avoid losing both targets to the French champions.

The bigger picture shows Liverpool adapting to football's new reality: superstar players are increasingly irreplaceable by single signings. Building a collective to succeed Salah, rather than anointing one successor, might prove the smartest strategy of all.

Expect concrete movement after the season ends, with Liverpool likely to pursue at least one of these targets aggressively while keeping options open for additional attacking reinforcements.