Liverpool are about to let their ideal Hugo Ekitike replacement leave the club – Opinion | OneFootball

Mohamed Salah: A Short-Term Solution Hidden in Plain Sight

Hugo Ekitike’s injury changes everything.

A ruptured Achilles is not just a setback—it is a season-defining blow, and in many cases, a career-altering one. For Liverpool, it means their central attacking plan for both this campaign and much of the next has been ripped apart. Recovery timelines of eight to ten months are standard, but regaining sharpness, explosiveness, and confidence takes far longer. Realistically, this writes off not only the remainder of this season, but also places serious doubt over Ekitike’s ability to contribute meaningfully next year.

That leaves Liverpool with a problem that cannot be ignored.

Do they spend heavily on a short-term fix? Or do they look internally for a solution that already exists?

Mohamed Salah may not be a traditional number nine, but he remains Liverpool’s most decisive attacking weapon. Even in what many have labelled a “down” season, he continues to produce elite-level output. Goals, assists, moments—he delivers all three with a consistency that no one else in the squad can match.

The idea of shifting Salah into a more central role is not new, but under the current structure, it has never been properly explored. With Ekitike unavailable, that conversation must now become serious. Rather than committing significant funds to a temporary striker—likely costing upwards of £25 million in combined fees and wages—Liverpool could instead lean on a proven, world-class operator already embedded within the club.

This is not just a tactical adjustment. It is a financial and strategic opportunity.

Because replacing Salah externally is impossible. Replacing him internally, by redefining his role, is logical.

A Decision That Defines the Next Era

Of course, this conversation does not exist in isolation.

Arne Slot’s position feels increasingly untenable. The lack of structure, the inconsistent selections, and the visible disconnect between players have eroded confidence at every level. What once looked like a continuation of Jürgen Klopp’s foundations now feels like a dismantling of them, with no clear plan to rebuild.

If, as expected, a managerial change arrives this summer, it opens the door to a reset—not just tactically, but culturally.

And within that reset sits Mohamed Salah.

His decision to leave, with a year remaining on his contract, felt like a natural endpoint in one sense. A legendary player, approaching the latter stages of his career, is stepping away as the club transitions. But football rarely operates in straight lines. Circumstances shift, and Ekitike’s injury is exactly the kind of moment that forces reconsideration.

Under a new head coach—someone capable of restoring structure and clarity—Salah could thrive once more. Not as a fading wide player, but as a central figure, both positionally and symbolically. His intelligence, movement, and finishing remain elite. What he needs is a system that maximises those qualities rather than restricting them.

Financially, the argument is just as strong. Removing a £500,000-a-week salary clears significant space, but replacing that output would almost certainly cost more. A short-term extension, even on adjusted terms, offers far greater value than entering the market for a temporary solution.

This is where Michael Edwards and the recruitment team must be decisive.

Do they continue with the planned transition, moving on from high-earning veterans regardless of context? Or do they recognise the unique situation in front of them and adapt?

Because the reality is simple.

Liverpool needs goals. They need leadership. They need reliability.

And all three still sit within Mohamed Salah.

If the next manager sees that clearly, there is a compelling case to be made—not for sentiment, but for strategy—that the Egyptian King should remain for one more season and lead Liverpool through a period that now demands experience as much as evolution.