Richard Hughes working on TWO major signings | OneFootball

Ornstein: LFC to sign centre-back and forward

The Athletic’s David Ornstein provided an update on Salah’s situation - following his fallout with Arne Slot.

Speaking to the Transfer Show on Sky Sports Ornstein stated that a parting of the ways with Salah could be coming this summer.

The Premier League champions have done their homework on potential replacements - and a new winger and centre-back are now looming into focus as two areas Richard Hughes will strengthen.

“I’m really intrigued to see how the post-AFCON reintegration goes, both in terms of the relationship with Slot, who he personally called out, and with the club, who he was clearly dissatisfied with over some things,” Ornstein said.

Ornstein: Salah could LEAVE

“Whether it can all just calm down and they can get back to playing well and getting results. If the reintegration goes well, then presumably they’ll look to carry on towards the end of his contract in 2027.

“If it doesn’t, there’s definitely a conversation to be had in the summer: do we continue, or do we part ways? If they’re going to part ways, it leaves a massive hole.

“It leaves a hole that Liverpool would have been thinking about for some time, given that he might not have signed that contract and might have left previously.

“They liked somebody like Antoine Semenyo and would have had many other options for that position, but Salah was there.

“So the day that he leaves, they need to be well prepared for the gulf, the chasm, that his departure will leave.

“And that’s why, alongside central defence, you’ve got to assume that this is a key area of focus. But we don’t know whether he’ll continue or not.”