PSV Eindhoven director Earnest Stewart admits he expects Johan Bakayoko to leave this summer amid interest from Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool.
While Virgil van Dijk may have rowed back somewhat on suggestions he made last week – indicating that Jurgen Klopp’s departure could spark something of an Anfield exodus – would anyone really be too surprised if Mo Salah opted to follow his long-serving boss out the door.
It is no secret that Salah was seriously tempted by the chance to move to Saudi Arabia last summer. Now, with his 32nd birthday approaching and his contract expiring in 18 months’ time, a Liverpool side who are reaping the rewards for an aggressive restructuring of their squad in 2023 may be tempted to do the same in 2024.
Especially with Johan Bakayoko, reportedly scouted by Liverpool in the Champions League this term (90Min), likely to leave PSV in the same summer that Klopp bids an emotional farewell of his own.
Could Johan Bakayoko replace Mo Salah at Liverpool?
“No, I don’t think so,” a rather appropriately-named Earnest Stewart told NOS when asked if the winger was likely to stay at the Eredivisie leaders beyond September.
“What Johan is doing at his age is fantastic. He has played thirty top matches before the winter break, including international matches with Belgium.”
90Min beleive that Tottenham Hotspur are also keen on Bakayoko.
At the age of just 20, the Belgium international is far from the finished article and has only six goals from 33 appearances this season. There are, however, undoubted similarities between Bakayoko and a pre-Liverpool Salah, the PSV whizzkid a devastating presence when cutting in from the right onto his left boot, breezing past full-backs and providing a near-constant creative threat.
While his tally of six goals is hardly stand-out, Bakayoko does have 13 assists to show for his performances this term.
19 goal contributions in 2023/24
“At the beginning of 2021, Johan was not doing well,” agent Gerard Witters tells Het Nieuwsblad. “But after he got his new contract, everything changed.
“He started to boost his stats and his games were phenomenal. The club has told me that Johan is already better than they initially thought he would be.
“Before he sometimes played like a crazy dog. He had great qualities and was very explosive, but he produced poor crosses and took shots when they were not the best option.
“Now he knows a lot more what he’s going to do and defenders can’t stop him anymore, despite the fact that he always does the same movement (cutting inside).”
Bakayoko was linked with Everton and Brentford a few months ago, while PSG failed with a bid in January 2023.
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