Klopp has ‘no real plans’ to replace Mo Salah when he leaves Liverpool behind
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has admitted the Reds have "no real plans" to replace Mohamed Salah in January.
The Egyptian forward will depart next month to link up with Egypt for the African Cup of Nations, meaning Liverpool could be without their star forward till February 11, when the competition in Ivory Coast concludes.
Last year, during the early 2022 iteration of the tournament, Liverpool had to managed the first month of the year without Salah and former Reds star Sadio Mane after Egypt and Senegal made their way all the way to the AFCON finale.
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However, while losing Salah and Mane last year was a double blow to the Reds, who finished second in the Premier League during the 2021/22 campaign to Manchester City, this time around, the former's absence is offset by the added firepower Liverpool have this time around in the form of Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo to go alongside Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota, who is currently sidelined.
On Saturday, Klopp and co returned to the top of the Premier League table thanks to a dramatic 2-1 win over Crystal Palace, a game which saw Salah score Liverpool's equalisers with Harvey Elliot netting a late winner.
Will Mohamed Salah be a Liverpool player come the start of next season? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.
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And speaking ahead of the game against Crystal Palace, Klopp explained Liverpool have no plans to bring in any added firepower in Salah's AFCON absence next month when the transfer window opens.
"No, I didn’t think about it to be honest and I can’t change it anyway," Klopp said. "I have no real plans for it. It’s January, right? I hope Diogo is back then. I didn’t think about it [January] yet. Probably [Salah will be available for Arsenal in the FA Cup]. I’m not sure when the official date is to give the boys.
"December is a really tricky month. You’re happy when you get through it and then you start thinking about all the rest. We cannot avoid it anyway. Whatever I can say, if Egypt and Mo decide he has to go on the second, third, or fourth of January. I’m pretty sure Mo wants to play the game but I’m not sure we can make that decision."
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But, while Liverpool may not have plans to replace Salah in January, they may be planning to replace the Egyptian in the summer, should the Saudi Pro League come calling once again. Last summer, Al-Ittihad, who signed Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante and Fabinho, tried to tempt Liverpool into selling the 31-year-old for a whopping £150million on deadline day, only to be rebuffed.
However, given how persistent they were, it seems a knocking bet a Saudi Pro League side will come calling once again in the summer, which will test Liverpool's resolve.
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