He's the one: 20-cap England forward is Richard Hughes' sensible Salah successor | OneFootball

Mohamed Salah is bringing the curtain down on his nine-year Liverpool career.

Reds fans were left reeling on Tuesday when the Egyptian King published a video to his social media channels confirming his departure at the end of the season.

It truly is the end of an era for Liverpool - with Salah arguably the greatest player in the club’s long and illustrious history. He’s scored 255 goals, won countless individual honours and played a key role in the Anfield club winning the biggest trophies in the game.

The Egyptian King is quite simply irreplaceable. But someone is going to have to soon step into Salah’s No11 shirt and take his place on the right wing.

Do Liverpool have anyone on the books right now who could do that? Not right now. So it looks like they are going to have to go into the transfer market for a solution - either long-term or short-term.

It would be no surprise to see a young player like Yan Diomande brought in. But can a teenager who has never been road-tested in the Premier League be relied upon?

Risky.

Jarrod Bowen should replace Mo Salah

A sensible option would be to go for a Premier League-proven talent, who can score and assist goals, who can stay fit and who can do the kinds of things on the wing that Salah used to do.

There is one lurking in the lower reaches of the Premier League table and he could be available for a cut-price fee this summer.

Jarrod Bowen would not be a 10-year signing for Liverpool given he’s already turned 29. But he has the quality and the robustness to come to Anfield and fill the right-wing role.

The England winger joined West Ham during the 2019/20 Premier League season and hasn’t looked back since. The Hammers’ captain has weighed in with 64 Premier League goals for the Irons - often playing in a bad team like he is this season.

Bowen is nonetheless carrying the fight for Nuno Espirito Santo’s bottom-dwellers - hitting eight goals and six assists in the top flight.

Jarrod Bowen is a risk-free transfer

If West Ham are relegated they will surely have to cash in on their top talents - and big earners - and that means Bowen’s continuity is at risk.

Under contract until 2030 at the London Stadium Liverpool could get the left-footer for around £25m according to some reports.

Given Salah’s struggles to get up and down - and influence the game from the right-sided channel this season - a player like Bowen ticks a lot of boxes.

The 20-cap Englishman is consistent and more importantly he is physically robust. He has played EVERY single minute of the Premier League season thus far other than nine minutes at the end of a defeat to Chelsea in January.

It might not be the most glamorous - or most “FSG” of signings given his age but it’s a sensible transfer that buys Liverpool time for a couple of seasons at least.

Bowen can play wide of a 4-2-3-1 - satisfying Slot where Salah cannot this season - and can even play in other formations too. NES has used him in a front two - as well as in a twin-No10 role in behind a frontman.

That kind of versatility is sure to appeal to Liverpool recruiters - who have long been reported to be tracking Bowen. We are not saying this one will definitely happen but if West Ham slide towards the Championship then this is one to keep an eye on.