​Mohamed Salah’s departure has left Liverpool with the opportunity to pursue another elite right winger, but simply trying to replace his goals and assists may prove more challenging than expected. The Reds could already have a player in their ranks who can evolve into the team’s new focal point. Alexander Isak has demonstrated his capacity for high-level scoring in England, tallying 54 goals in 86 appearances during his time with Newcastle United. Very few players around the globe can consistently match the volume Salah has supplied over the past eight seasons. In today’s market, Liverpool might be asked to pay well over £100 million for an attacker who could still fall short of Salah’s output. Directly displacing Salah could be the wrong strategy, and new manager Andoni Iraola might instead shape his attack to revolve around the Swedish forward, supported by creative wide players who excel at generating chances.
Since arriving at the club, Isak has managed only 14 Premier League appearances due to injury and fitness concerns, which effectively makes him feel like a new signing as he enters the next season. The World Cup run suggested his sharpness is coming back, with four goal involvements for Graham Potter’s side. With Yan Diomande opting for Paris Saint-Germain over Liverpool, Bradley Barcola’s potential arrival has emerged as an option amid questions surrounding his future. Barcola is an exceptional dribbler with top pace who thrives in one-on-one situations, frequently beating defenders before delivering dangerous crosses that could complement Isak’s goal-scoring prowess. This summer in North America, Barcola impressed with two goals and one assist in just 282 minutes.
Yankubeh Minteh is another target, with reports indicating a £70–£80 million bid is on the table. The 21-year-old’s explosive, direct style would suit Iraola’s system well, and he has already shown traits that could complement Liverpool’s number nine, including 16 big chances created in his Premier League career to date. At Anfield, Florian Wirtz already offers a creative option who can deliver intelligent passes into the channels, something Isak would heavily benefit from. We glimpsed the potential of this pairing last season in a Tottenham Hotspur away fixture, which produced a superb goal but also a significant knee injury that briefly halted the collaboration between Isak and Wirtz. If developed correctly, this attacking dynamic could become the cornerstone of next season’s plan, potentially delivering more value than a conventional aim to replicate Salah’s output from the right.
The plan suggests concentrating on Isak as the primary attacking hub, with a support cast of wide players who excel at creating chances and stretching opposition lines. Isak’s ability to find space, combined with wingers who can convert those chances and delivering precise crosses and cutbacks, could optimize the team’s attacking output. The squad would need balance: creative playmakers to feed Isak, pace and directness on the flanks, and sturdy midfielders to maintain pressure and retain balance in transition. The moral of the strategy is clear—rather than chasing a pure Salah replacement, Liverpool could build a more versatile and sustainable attack around Isak, supported by intelligent movement from Barcola, Minteh, and Wirtz, who can unlock dangerous moments across the pitch.
In summary, replacing Salah’s numbers outright may be impractical in this market. The smarter approach could be to cultivate a cohesive attacking framework centered on Isak, with a dynamic trio of wide players who can generate chances and create goals for him. If Iraola can integrate these components effectively, Liverpool could not only mitigate the impact of Salah’s exit but potentially surpass previous levels of attacking efficiency by leveraging Isak’s ceiling and the creative capabilities of Barcola, Minteh, and Wirtz.