Mohamed Salah has been Liverpool’s top goalscorer for the last two years but former Reds midfielder Mohamed Sissoko thinks Jurgen Klopp is already planning for life after the Egyptian.
Salah fired Liverpool to Champions League and Club World Cup glory, while the Merseysiders are also on course to win a first top-flight title in 30 years.
However, speculation has been rife that the 27-year-old could pursue a new challenge this summer.
And Sissoko, who made 87 appearances for Liverpool across all competitions, thinks the head coach already has a contingency plan in place.
“I don’t know if Salah will stay,” Sissoko told Europa Calcio.
“If he were to leave the Reds, his farewell could be a good thing for Liverpool.
“The management is very intelligent and would already know how to replace him.
“There are very strong young people around who are already ready to play for the Reds and give their best.”
Although Sissoko does not give any names as to which transfers Klopp may have in his sights, Liverpool have been linked with RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner and Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho.
Sissoko spent two-and-a-half years at Anfield from 2005 to January 2008.
He was then sold to Juventus for £8million but made just seven Serie A starts in the following two-and-a-half years, prior to his move to Paris Saint-Germain.
“Liverpool is something special: the fans, the team, I played with very strong players,” Sissoko reflected.
“Like Juventus , Liverpool also helped me grow both as a man and as a footballer.
“Aside from the injury I had there, people knew me for everything I could do on the pitch.
“I’m sorry that Liverpool have now left the Champions League, but I must admit that the main goal for the Reds is to win the Premier League.
“It has been a long time since the fans waited for the championship victory.
“If they manage to win it, there will be a lot of ‘fuego’ in Liverpool (laughs).”
Liverpool are 25 points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
Klopp’s side need just two wins from their remaining nine matches to secure the title.
