Gerrard Sets the Standard for Salah Replacement
Liverpool are approaching a turning point. Mohamed Salah’s imminent departure leaves a glaring hole on the right wing, and former captain Steven Gerrard has made it clear the solution must be exceptional. Speaking to TNT Sports alongside Owen Hargreaves, Gerrard laid down a challenge for Liverpool’s recruitment team.
“You’d have to buy somebody that’s box office. Otherwise, you’re not replacing him. They have to be top-end, top three, four wingers in the world to replace Mo Salah, because that’s what Mo’s been,” Gerrard stated, underlining the difficulty of the task.
For Gerrard, mediocrity will not suffice. Liverpool need someone capable of immediately stepping into Salah’s shoes and delivering at the very highest level. Hargreaves suggested one option, highlighting the importance of a tried and tested star. “You’ve got to go tried and tested. And for me, that would be Olise, somebody of that calibre,” he said, referencing the dynamic French winger currently at Bayern Munich.
Olise as Liverpool’s Next Big Name
Michael Olise has impressed in Germany, registering 43 direct goal involvements in 39 appearances this season. Hargreaves acknowledged that acquiring a player of Olise’s calibre might be a stretch, but insisted ambition is key. “Probably not, but the thing is, if you don’t ask, you don’t get. And I wouldn’t wanna see him leave Bayern because that front three is amazing. But if you’re talking Olise on that right-hand side for Liverpool, that’s box office.”
Liverpool have a narrow window to act, and Olise represents one of the few realistic candidates capable of matching Salah’s influence. Yet Gerrard’s comments suggest the club must cast a wider net and consider only elite-level talent.
Challenges in Finding the Right Player
While Olise ticks many boxes, Gerrard’s standard sets a high bar. Realistically, very few wingers in Europe carry the combination of pace, skill, and consistency required. Lamine Yamal, Kvicha Kvaratshkelia, Raphinha, Ousmane Dembele, and Vinicius Junior are all mentioned in conversations, but practical hurdles make their arrival unlikely. Gerrard’s point is clear: Liverpool must aim for a top-tier signing if they want to avoid a significant drop-off on Salah’s exit.
Fans are already weighing in, some questioning whether anyone can truly replace Salah. Comments on social media range from cautious optimism around Olise to the blunt assessment that nobody will replicate the Egyptian’s brilliance. One fan observed, “No one can actually replace this guy. However, Micheal Olise is not bad.” Another highlighted tactical concerns, noting, “Mo Salah is not our problem here, the manager is. The tactics he is using isn’t helping the club, and players.”
Salah’s departure signals a decisive moment for Liverpool, and Gerrard’s guidance emphasises ambition over compromise. The club must pursue a winger who can instantly influence games at the highest level. With a shortlist already including Michael Olise, Anthony Gordon, Jarrod Bowen, Desire Doue, Bradley Barcola, Yan Diomande, and Nico Williams, Liverpool’s scouting team faces a critical summer.
Gerrard’s warning is simple: only a player of exceptional calibre will honour Salah’s legacy and keep Liverpool competing at the top. The right acquisition could define Liverpool’s front three for years to come.
