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If Liverpool replace Salah they have to go big and sign one of these guys
The fallout from Mohamed Salah‘s postmatch comments at Elland Road has added another layer of drama around Liverpool‘s troubled season. A January exit is now genuinely a possibility for the Egypt international, but the club’s hierarchy will be under no illusions about how hard it would be to replace him midseason.
The 33-year-old forward has 250 goals and 116 assists from 420 games over the last eight years for Liverpool, and numbers like that can’t be matched by routine additions in the transfer market. Long-standing targets such as AFC Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo or Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon may fit broader squad-building plans in the long term, but neither has the level of output Liverpool would be forfeiting if Salah walks.
Replacing him would require signing someone with a proven track record; a player who can both score and create at a ridiculously high rate. Liverpool are not shy to spend, as we saw over the summer with over €450 million splashed on seven players including an initial €145 million on Alexander Isak, €117 million on Florian Wirtz and €80 million on Hugo Ekitike.
But none of these are suitable of filling the void left by Salah. So with that in mind, here’s a look at a range of potential successors — some realistic; others more on the speculative side — who should be on the club’s internal shortlist.
To be clear: a like-for-like replacement doesn’t exist. The profiles of the options vary, but the brief is to find an attacking forward who is stylistically compatible to Salah, has a high-volume impact, and the ability to decide games from the start.
An ambitious candidate to go after, given his €150 million-plus price tag, but Vinícius Júnior’s unease at Real Madrid is out in the open amid contract renewal talks (his deal expires in 2027). This season’s return of five goals and five assists in LaLiga is decent, yet his scoreless run of 11 games is already a talking point and fueling speculation over an exit.
This campaign his shot volume remains on par with last season, though his on-target rate has dipped by 4%. But more crucial is the drop in individual actions: his take-ons have fallen from a usual 10+ per 90 minutes to 8.5, while his offensive duels have dropped to 14.4 per 90 after multiple seasons in the 16-17 range, which suggests Xabi Alonso’s structure may be limiting some of his natural freedom.
How similar to Salah? Right-footed, Vinícius plays on the other side and generates most of his shots cutting in from the left, though his finishing profile is shaped more by finding available space than anything, which is why former boss Carlo Ancelotti frequently used him in a withdrawn central role across 50-plus matches.
There are similarities in execution speed, close control when travelling at pace, effective one-vs.-one actions, and the ability to combine sharp passes around a center forward. Some tactical tweaks would be required to get the best out the Brazil international at Anfield, but he belongs to a select few players in the world who would justify such a fundamental rethink.
How likely is a transfer? A January move does feel unrealistic, but the medium-term picture next summer is less settled than Real Madrid would like. There are only a handful of clubs worldwide that could be in the running for Vinicius’ signature if he leaves Madrid, and Liverpool are one.
A player that Liverpool would seriously pursue if the opportunity arises, Olisé is a left-footed right winger who thrives in the same spaces from which Salah has proved so successful, both in terms of picking up the ball and exploiting to set off a finish. However, the ex-Crystal Palace winger is more of a playmaker than a finisher.
His €60 million transfer from Crystal Palace in 2024 now looks a serious bargain and he has a contract until 2029.
How similar to Salah? While Salah’s game is built around short bursts, immense spatial awareness and penalty-box repetition, Olise has a somewhat broader take on the same role. He tends to receive the ball between the defensive lines on his left foot, often shapes his body as if to cross early before sliding disguised passes onto runners or cutbacks from deeper in the box, rather than going for the early finish.
That said, there are similarities as to how they control the ball so fast, which makes them able to evade pressure before carrying the ball into high xG finishing positions, as well as shot-volume and zone selection.
How likely is a transfer? The France international has been so exceptionally productive at Bayern — 29 goals, 39 assists in 77 matches — that a move seems unlikely unless a fee of €150 million is put on the table as a starting point. Though the London-born winger may fancy a switch back to the Premier League.
Heatmap of all actions from Aug. 1, 2023
Raphinha is one of the few established wide forwards who can realistically assume Salah’s role at Liverpool without feeling like a step down or forcing major structural changes in attack.
A left-footer who can play on the right, but is also comfortable drifting into tighter central zones (as shown by the heatmap above), he has performed at a world-class level since leaving Leeds United to join Barcelona for €58 million in 2022. His production last season was nothing short of extraordinary as he played a central role in a domestic treble with 34 goals and 25 assists in 57 matches, and landed the LaLiga Player of the Season award.
How similar to Salah? Though often appearing on the left side to accommodate Lamine Yamal on the right, Raphinha’s shot volume sits almost exactly in Salah territory at 2.6 per 90, and their chance-creation profiles are very similar too, with both hovering around one key pass per 90. Their on-pitch interpretation of their role is an equally apt fit as Raphinha often receives the ball wide, shifts inside and either releases an early whipped cross or darts deep into space.
Out of possession, Raphinha has shown he can function in high-intensity pressing teams, and generally tracks his full back all the way. Now Salah is getting older, he does less on the defensive side, but Liverpool have certainly missed that this season after the exit of Luis Díaz.
How likely is a transfer? Barcelona’s persistent financial issues — registration problems, leveraged debt and well-publicized cost pressures — means a €100 million offer to sign Raphinha would be difficult for them to ignore, especially for a player approaching his late 20s. That age profile may be a turn off for Liverpool, but considering the technical and tactical suitability, he should be firmly in the conversation at Anfield.
Leão would be a different kind of replacement, but a case can be justified with some structural rethinking. While he’s right footed and exclusively thrives on the left, his underlying numbers are promising (despite having struggled to recreate his form from three years ago) with 0.65 goals per 90 and 52% of his shots reaching the target this season.
At 6-foot-2, Leão mostly moves forward through long strides, exhilarating top speed and strong accelerations. His take-on proficiency has dropped in recent seasons from five to around the three mark (per 90), but his carries into the box are still a vital part of his game.
How similar to Salah? Leão offers most of what Salah does — only on the opposite side — but he’s more reliant on transitions and a stretched game than the nimble Salah, who can craft space from the tightest of spots.
How likely is a transfer? Leão has a contract until 2028 and a reported release clause of €175 million, which makes him a viable option. One point to consider is that having a high-volume scorer on the right would draw defenders to open space for the likes of Isak and Ekitike elsewhere.
Greenwood has shone over the last few seasons at Marseille, having left Manchester United under a cloud in August 2023 after a six-month investigation into his conduct. United had launched a probe into the circumstances around Greenwood’s arrest on suspicion of rape and assault in January 2022, but criminal charges against him were dropped in February 2023, and he eventually joined Marseille for €31.6 million around 18 months later, signing a contract until 2029.
Since then, his game has developed in Ligue 1, with improvements in chance-creation, shot creation and take-ons. Indeed, almost 70% of his shots now come from central or inside-right zones, and his non-penalty xG per shot (0.5 per 90) has also improved as he’s stopped trying low-value efforts. He receives the ball well under pressure, plays short combinations without slowing the rhythm and carries the ball directly. Furthermore, his two-footedness represents a major advantage as defenders struggle to choose whether to lead him to the outside or inside.
How similar to Salah? Greenwood’s style is a reasonably close match to Salah’s. His finishing technique is the obvious factor — an effortless ability to open his body and curl first-time efforts towards the far post, which comes from a technique that relies on balance, minimal backlift and extreme precision.
Much like Salah, Greenwood can generate power from an almost static position, just as he can resort to controlled, shaped strikes.
How likely is a transfer? His controversial past in a Manchester United shirt, as well as the fact that roughly half of any transfer fee would be routed back to Old Trafford, probably makes this a non-starter.
A bit of a wildcard option, Barcola is not an undisputed starter for PSG but his end product is exceptional for his age. Last season he registered 21 goals and 21 assists, followed by another strong opening to 2025-26, with five goals and three assists.
Although he is right footed and naturally gravitates toward the left, he has been used frequently on the opposite flank without any massive drop in effectiveness. He carries the ball into high-value zones with efficiency and executes take-ons, combination play and finishing actions at high speed. He is difficult to outmuscle and is comfortable enough on his weaker foot to avoid predictable patterns. Off the ball, he presses well, reacts quickly to transitions and shows the mobility required in a high line.
How similar to Salah? His shot volume sits just below Salah’s at 2.5 per 90 (compared to 2.7), but his accuracy is top notch. Indeed, Barcola hits the target with 51% of his shots, well above Salah’s 39%.
How likely is a transfer? PSG would hardly welcome interest unless they can at least double their €45 million investment, but the fact he is regularly rotated and often substituted around the 60-70-minute mark may create an opportunity. His age, potential and versatility strengthens his candidacy, while his contract expires in 2028.
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Josh Weinfuss
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Jordan Reid
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Jordan Reid
NFL draft analyst
- Jordan Reid is an NFL draft analyst for ESPN, providing in-depth scouting on the nation’s top pro prospects. Jordan joined ESPN in 2021 and also contributes to SportsCenter and ESPN Radio. He played quarterback at North Carolina Central University and then went on to coach there from 2014-18.
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Ben Solak
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Ben Solak
ESPN
- Ben Solak joined ESPN in 2024 as a national NFL analyst. He previously covered the NFL at The Ringer, Bleeding Green Nation and The Draft Network.
Multiple Authors
TEMPE, Ariz. — After being without a head coach for almost a month, the Arizona Cardinals finally have their choice.
Arizona announced the hiring of 38-year-old Mike LaFleur on Sunday, ending a search that looked similar to previous ones by the Cardinals. As they were in 2023 when they hired Jonathan Gannon, they were once again the last team to make a hire after nine other head coaching vacancies were filled. And for the sixth time in the past 19 years, they hired a first-time NFL coach.
They also kept their pattern of alternating between offensive- and defensive-minded head coaches. LaFleur spent the past five seasons as an offensive coordinator, two with the New York Jets and three with the Los Angeles Rams. Gannon was a defensive-minded coach. He was preceded by Kliff Kingsbury, an offensive coach, who was preceded by Steve Wilks, a defensive coach, who was preceded by Bruce Arians, an offensive coach.
Arizona signed LaFleur to a five-year contract as he sets out to bring Arizona back to the playoffs for the first time since 2021.
Cardinals reporter Josh Weinfuss and NFL draft analyst Jordan Reid break down what the hire could mean for quarterback Kyler Murray and for the Cardinals’ upcoming draft. And NFL analyst Ben Solak provides a grade.
Why Mike LaFleur?
Weinfuss: LaFleur is highly regarded around the league for his offensive acumen. And he represents a branch of the Sean McVay tree, which carries a great deal of cache.
LaFleur is the fourth McVay OC to become a head coach, joining Mike’s brother Matt LaFleur of the Green Bay Packers, Kevin O’Connell of the Minnesota Vikings and Liam Coen of the Jacksonville Jaguars. The three others led their teams to the playoffs.
LaFleur runs a West Coast style of offense, which would be Murray’s third different offensive style in his eight NFL seasons — should he still be around come OTAs.
Did the Cards wait too long and miss out on the top choices?
Weinfuss: It’s hard to argue that they didn’t, but general manager Monti Ossenfort said during his postseason news conference that Arizona was going to take its time.
It might not have been a matter of waiting too long and missing out on their top choices for the Cardinals, as opposed to not being as attractive of a destination as other teams. That’s mainly because of uncertainty at quarterback, facilities that have consistently received low grades in the annual NFLPA report cards and an owner in Michael Bidwell who has been famously frugal.
Where waiting this long to hire a head coach can and, likely, will hurt the Cardinals will be in hiring a staff. With LaFleur being the last coach hired this cycle, his pool of assistants to hire has been shrinking by the day.
What does this mean for Murray’s future with the Cardinals?
Weinfuss: That’s still to be determined. Murray’s contract situation is well known: He’s under contract until 2028 and has already been guaranteed $39.8 million for 2026, so there are two possibilities for Murray: Let LaFleur pick his guy, which, as an offensive-minded head coach, may be the smartest move, or Bidwell will require Murray to stay on the roster because of all the money he’s paid him for this coming season.
LaFleur hasn’t always been dealt the easiest of hands with quarterbacks. In San Francisco, he had C.J. Beathard, Nick Mullens, Jimmy Garoppolo and Brian Hoyer, and in New York he had Zach Wilson. Murray is a step above them talent wise, but LaFleur, who had a front-row seat for Matthew Stafford in Los Angeles the last three seasons, also has worked with an elite QB.
How can LaFleur boost his roster at No. 3 overall in the draft — and will the pick come on offense?
Reid: This roster needs help in multiple spots, so the Cardinals could go in a few different directions — and focus on either side of the ball.
Right tackle is one clear hole on the roster, and either Spencer Fano (Utah) or Francis Mauigoa (Miami) would make a lot of sense. Fano has great movement traits, while Mauigoa is a physical mauler.
But the Cardinals might instead look to add an edge rusher opposite Josh Sweat. Keep an eye on the powerful Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami) and explosive David Bailey (Texas Tech). They both know how to get after the QB; both players had 71 pressures in 2025, tied for second most in the FBS.
How would you grade this hire?
Solak: B-. The Cardinals — the last team to fill its head coaching vacancy — clearly did not get their preferred candidate, as they announced the hiring of LaFleur only minutes after it was reported that Klint Kubiak was taking the Raiders job.
LaFleur is a chip off the old Kyle Shanahan block, having spent time as the 49ers’ passing game coordinator under him before taking the offensive coordinator job with Robert Saleh and the Jets. LaFleur never got the plane off the ground with Zach Wilson in New York, and will now be in charge of another young quarterback’s developmental arc, assuming Arizona moves off Kyler Murray and onto a new signal-caller.
There’s a solid ceiling here, as LaFleur is from a prolific coaching tree. But it’s hard to get too excited about what feels like a very run-of-the-mill hire.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Sunday expressed hope that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) would work towards a “mutually acceptable resolution” after the government denied permission to the national side for a match against India in T20 World Cup 2026.
In a statement, the cricket governing body noted the government’s statement, in which it said that Pakistan would play the tournament but skip their game against India.
“While the ICC awaits official communication from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), this position of selective participation is difficult to reconcile with the fundamental premise of a global sporting event where all qualified teams are expected to compete on equal terms per the event schedule,” the ICC said.
The cricket-governing body added that such “selective participation undermines the spirit and sanctity of the competitions” built on sporting integrity, competitiveness, consistency and fairness.
The ICC said that it respected the roles of governments in matters of national policy, however, it added that the decision was not “in the interest of the global game or the welfare of fans worldwide, including millions in Pakistan”.
“The ICC hopes that the PCB will consider the significant and long-term implications for cricket in its own country as this is likely to impact the global cricket ecosystem, which it is itself a member and beneficiary of,” the ICC stated.
The cricket-governing body asserted that its priority remained the successful delivery of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, saying it should also be the responsibility of all its members including the PCB.
The statement follows Pakistan’s announcement that its team would participate in the tournament but would boycott the match against arch-rival India.
The decision came following a meeting between PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
“The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan grants approval to the Pakistan Cricket Team to participate in the ICC World T20 2026,” the government said in a post on X.
“…however, the Pakistan Cricket Team shall not take the field in the match scheduled on 15th February 2026 against India.”
Kansas shooting guard Darryn Peterson and BYU forward AJ Dybantsa loom as the projected top two picks in the upcoming NBA draft. They are the precocious cream of what projects to be one of the best NBA drafts — particularly in the top 10 — in the past generation.
Who will be No. 1? ESPN polled 20 NBA scouts and executives to get an early vibe, and the results indicate that there will be a rigorous debate right up to June’s draft.
Peterson received 12 votes and Dybantsa eight for the top spot. With No. 13 BYU visiting No. 14 Kansas on Saturday (4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN), it will mark the first collegiate matchup between the two stars.
“It’s Darryn Peterson for me,” a veteran scout told ESPN. “He makes things look so effortless, it’s unbelievable. His shotmaking is unmatched. He’s the closest thing to Kobe Bryant I’ve seen since Kobe in terms of shotmaking and ability to create his own shot. He’s not the same athlete as Kobe, but no one is. He’s really special.”
Few of the scouts and executives polled indicated the choice was easy.
“It’s so close,” a veteran NBA executive told ESPN. “I’m saying 51% to 49%, just barely. I just feel like there’s a little bit more potential with AJ Dybantsa as a player who makes others better. But if you call me on March 1, I could tell you that I changed my mind.”
The NBA is descending on Lawrence, Kansas, this weekend for some additional empirical evidence.
At least 32 NBA front office personnel from 17 teams are attending the game, with seven general managers/decision-makers expected to be among them. (Also slated to attend is Atlanta Hawks owner Tony Ressler.)
Some teams are sending multiple scouts and executives, including a majority of the front office staffs of both the Hawks (five attendees) and Indiana Pacers (six attendees). Both the Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards are sending three reps.
Multiple NBA sources told ESPN that they are eager to see how Peterson looks after missing a game against Kansas State last Saturday with an ankle sprain. Kansas coach Bill Self has said he anticipates Peterson to play, and the injury has not been considered long term.
Peterson missed nine games over two separate stretches earlier in the season with a hamstring issue. With the ankle injury costing him a game, it means that he has missed half of Kansas’ games this season. He has also been managing a cramping issue.
“I don’t like the drama of playing and not playing,” said one scout, who chose Peterson as his No. 1 pick. “But he’s a scoring menace. He’s just a killer offensively.”
Dybantsa is listed at 6-foot-9 and 210 pounds. Peterson is 6-foot-6 and 205 pounds. It’s uncertain if they will often match up directly with each other on the floor Saturday, but they will certainly be compared and debated in the upcoming months.
The core of the debate comes to Peterson’s rare offensive upside against Dybantsa having more athleticism and two-way upside. Multiple scouts and executives mentioned having both Duke‘s Cam Boozer and North Carolina‘s Caleb Wilson in the conversation about the top pick, but none picked those players as their preference for No. 1.
One scout summed up his Dybantsa pick this way: “He’s the only one who has a chance to be elite on both ends.”
Another said about Peterson: “I think he can be a championship-level shot creator in the NBA.”
Peterson is averaging 21.6 points per game in 27.2 minutes. He is also averaging 4.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists and shooting an impressive 42% from 3-point range.
Dybantsa is scoring 23.6 points per game, snags 6.7 rebounds and dishes 3.6 assists. He has played in all 20 of BYU’s games and is shooting 31.8% from 3-point range.
No one is debating the talent at the top of this draft, as college basketball is having a freshman renaissance this season. This draft is both elite at the top and deep, with freshman stars such as Houston‘s Kingston Flemings, Louisville‘s Mikel Brown Jr., Tennessee‘s Nate Ament, Arkansas‘ Darius Acuff Jr., Arizona‘s Koa Peat, UConn‘s Braylon Mullins, Houston’s Chris Cenac Jr. and Illinois‘ Keaton Wagler giving the sport an adrenaline shot of young talent.
“It is extra deep with high-end talent,” said a veteran scout. “This draft will hold up historically as one of the better ones in the last 20 years.”
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