Report reveals Liverpool ‘admire’ West Ham star as ‘data’ shows who can be Klopp’s ‘next Salah’

According to The Athletic, Liverpool ‘admire’ West Ham winger Jarrod Bowen and have been tracking him ‘for several seasons’.

Bowen could be a player Jurgen Klopp considers if Mohamed Salah leaves the club in the winter transfer window.

Salah signed a new three-year contract in July 2022 but has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad, who signed Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante and Fabinho this summer.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side pursued the Egyptian too late, making their first approach when the summer window was almost closed, which meant Liverpool did not entertain it.

Selling Salah would jeopardize the Reds’ title hopes, especially given their failure to sign a suitable successor.

Al-Ittihad are set to re-sign the 31-year-old in January, so Klopp may have begun to prepare for life without his star player.

According to The Athletic, some potential successors for Salah, who will be extremely difficult to replace.

As mentioned already, Bowen is one player Klopp likes, but Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe is described as the ‘galactico’ Salah heir.

Obviously, if Al-Ittihad come back with an offer worth £150million, Liverpool will be able to afford Mbappe (should they decide to sell), which they probably have not been able to do at any point.

Bowen is ‘admired’ by the Reds, who ‘have been watching the West Ham winger for a number of seasons’, the report claims.

The 26-year-old’s ball-carrying ability is highlighted as he excels at this in a ‘less possession-dominant side’ and Salah led the Premier League in progressive carries last term with 58.

Bowen is regarded as the ‘Premier League-ready replacement’, as is Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise, who recently signed a new four-year contract after the Eagles successfully fought off interest from Chelsea.

Klopp might have missed out on the ideal Salah replacement already with Aston Villa new boy Moussa Diaby ‘the Premier League player who profiles most similarly’ to the Egyptian international.

It is important to note that Bowen is the only player out of the three whom Liverpool have shown any interest in signing; the report simply identifies Diaby and Olise as ideal replacements.

Similarly, the report does not say Klopp wants to sign Real Sociedad forward Takefusa Kubo, but it is said that the ‘data’ shows he is ‘the next Salah’.

With great numbers in attempted take-ons, attacking carries (68 per cent of which ended with an attempt on goal) and goal contributions, the Japanese winger could be Klopp’s man.