Revealed: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah succession plan - the players on shortlist including two Bundesliga stars and a former Arne Slot pupil, why Reds want a new type of winger and how much money there is to spend

Arne Slot’s decision to leave Mohamed Salah on the bench while Liverpool chased a two-goal deficit in Paris has crystallised a transition at Anfield: the club must replace a generational goalscorer and pivot to quicker, more unpredictable wide attackers — all while Champions League qualification will determine how much money they can spend.

Slot benches Salah in Paris — a tactical signal, not just a selection

Mohamed Salah, Liverpool’s leading scorer with 255 goals, was left warming the bench as the Reds trailed Paris Saint-Germain 2-0. That moment felt less like a one-off and more like a statement about the type of forward Arne Slot wants to build his team around. The decision highlighted Liverpool’s tactical rethink: a move toward wingers who can beat low blocks with trickery and pace, rather than relying on Salah’s one-on-one mastery alone.

Why Liverpool need a different winger profile

Football in England and Europe is shifting. Top teams are increasingly using unorthodox, dynamic wide players to unsettle compact defences — think dribblers who can create chaos in tight spaces. Recent matches exposed Liverpool’s vulnerability to inventive attackers and set-piece overloads. Slot has signalled the need for players who can unlock low blocks and provide unpredictability off the ball, complementing rather than replicating Salah’s strengths.

Primary transfer targets and feasibility

Yan Diomande (RB Leipzig)

The 19-year-old Ivorian has risen rapidly and attracted heavy interest across Europe. Leipzig value him highly — reported valuations approach nine figures in euros — which would make him an expensive, but high-upside acquisition. His profile fits the brief: pace, directness and the potential to develop into a top-level wide attacker.

Yankuba Minteh (Brighton)

A familiar figure to Slot from Feyenoord, Minteh has flourished since joining Brighton. He offers raw speed and trickery, making him an attractive, more attainable option — though Brighton would likely demand a significant premium on their initial outlay.

Other names under consideration

Younger Bundesliga creators and Serie A wingers have been linked in the broader market: players who combine direct dribbling with creative output. Juventus’ Francisco Conceição, Hoffenheim’s Bazoumana Toure and a handful of Premier League names have featured in wider transfer chatter. Realistic pursuit will depend on price, squad need and Champions League status.

Internal alternatives: youth and existing signings

Rio Ngumoha, 17, is seen as part of the forward pathway and could be primed for a larger role next season. Meanwhile, last year’s attacking recruits — Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike — have scarcely had time together; injuries permitting, the trio could form a longer-term solution that spreads goal responsibility more evenly than the Salah era did.

Money matters: Champions League is decisive

The club’s transfer firepower will be heavily influenced by European qualification. Missing the Champions League would meaningfully reduce available funds and make top-tier targets harder to attract. That financial reality forces Liverpool to balance ambition with pragmatism: pursue transformational signings if revenue allows, or double down on internal development and smarter, cost-effective acquisitions if it does not.

What this change means for Liverpool’s near future

Replacing Salah’s output is virtually impossible on a one-for-one basis. The pragmatic route is to build a collective that creates more goals from multiple sources: quicker, trickier wingers; better set-piece management; and more rotation across forward roles. Slot’s involvement in recruitment suggests this is a deliberate, strategic shift rather than an impulsive reset.