The unexpected departure of Mohamed Salah after nine remarkable years at Anfield has left a huge void on the right side of Liverpool’s attack.
New Reds manager Andoni Iraola is searching for the best solution to fill the gap left by the Egyptian superstar. However, with the transfer market proving difficult, he could instead place his trust in a player who is already part of the squad.
Salah left Liverpool at the end of last season after an extraordinary spell with the club, winning every major trophy and establishing himself as one of the greatest players in the club’s history. Replacing him is widely regarded as one of Iraola’s biggest challenges.
Liverpool initially identified Paris Saint-Germain forward Bradley Barcola as one of their primary transfer targets for the attacking flank. However, a deal for the French international appears highly unlikely, with PSG reportedly demanding around £145 million to let him leave.
Furthermore, Barcola prefers playing on the left wing, where Liverpool already have strong options in Cody Gakpo and highly rated youngster Rio Ngumoha. That makes it even more difficult for him to adapt to the role Salah occupied for so many years.
Iraola Considers a New Role for Frimpong
According to reports from England, Iraola is considering pushing Jeremie Frimpong further forward and turning him into an option on the right wing.
The Dutch international endured a difficult debut season at Liverpool, with injuries disrupting his campaign, while he also struggled to fully convince in his traditional full-back role.
However, the club believes his greatest strengths lie in attacking situations. His pace, ability to drive into the penalty area, and aggressive attacking style could make Frimpong a highly dangerous player in a more advanced position.
Iraola’s idea is to reduce his defensive responsibilities and maximize his attacking qualities, allowing him to operate in a role similar to the one Salah performed so successfully on the right wing for many years.
In addition to Frimpong, Liverpool also have another option on the right flank following the arrival of new signing Víctor Muñoz. However, the club believes the Dutchman could be the closest internal solution to filling the gap left by Salah’s departure.
