Life after Salah - why Isak and Wirtz must step up for Liverpool
Liverpool are preparing to begin a season without Mohamed Salah for the first time in a decade - but they haven't replaced him yet. This is why.
When Mohamed Salah departs Liverpool for Trabzonspor this season, the team must rely on new signings Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitike to fill the void. Together, they scored a combined 488 goals for Liverpool between 2015 and 2026, with Salah himself scoring 10 of those goals on the opening matchday. Cody Gakpo is currently the top scorer in the squad, with 50 goals.
Alexander Isak, 26, and Florian Wirtz, 23, will need to step up as the leading forwards after disappointing debut campaigns. Wirtz is expected to play behind the striker, while Isak will be crucial in creating chances for his teammates. Hugo Ekitike, who suffered a serious injury this season, is also expected to return to form. The team's captain, Virgil van Dijk, emphasizes the importance of a well-rounded squad capable of competing on all fronts.
Liverpool is also in talks to sign PSG's Bradley Barcola, a 23-year-old French winger who is open to a move from the French club. The club had previously tried to sign Paris St-Germain's Yankuba Minteh and Ibrahim Mbaye, but those deals were not successful. Vladimir Spjeldnaes, Liverpool's new transfer broker, is confident that the team can find a suitable replacement for Salah and that they will be successful for the 2026-27 season.
Written by urgent.news from BBC Sport Football's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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