Liverpool have just signed Mohamed Salah up to a new long-term contract.
Having lost Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich last month, losing both the Senegal international and Salah – whose previous deal ran until next summer – within a year of each would’ve been devastating.
Mane and the Egyptian attacker have been instrumental in Liverpool’s success under Jurgen Klopp.
And although the Reds have broken their transfer record on signing Darwin Nunez, he isn’t a replacement for Mane, given that the Uruguay international is a centre-forward, not a winger.
So who is replacing Mane at Anfield?
Well unfortunately for Liverpool supporters, it’s possible that the addition of Calvin Ramsay last week might be their last business of the window.
Unless, of course, one of their other summer recruits could wind up replacing the former Southampton winger – and Takumi Minamino, another wide player who has exited Merseyside.
Fabio Carvalho was the first player signed by Klopp and FSG this summer, after almost signing during the January transfer window.
Liverpool unveiled the player this afternoon and the former Fulham gem made some interesting comments.
He said to the club’s official website: “Obviously at Fulham I played more in the No.10 role; it just depends on which formation we play. But I also fancy the wing because I’m creative enough to go one-v-one and create things. But like you said, I’m more than comfortable playing anywhere but those two positions are where I want to play.”
Sadio Mane replacement at Liverpool?
Carvalho’s willingness to play out wide means that he could well be the Mane replacement nobody expected.
The 19-year-old joined Liverpool as a number 10, as he mentioned in his interview, but it’s entirely possible that Klopp has signed him to be deployed on the flanks primarily.
Of course, Luis Diaz, who joined in January, will be Mane’s immediate successor on the left-hand side of attack.
But Carvalho isn’t at Liverpool for the now in any case; he’s a player for the future and going forward it’ll be fascinating to see where Klopp views him.
Don’t be surprised if it’s out wide.
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