Sports
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.
NEW YORK — For a 22nd straight year, LeBron James is an All-Star.
The NBA announced its reserves for the Feb. 15 midseason showcase Sunday night on NBC before James and his Los Angeles Lakers faced the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Voting was conducted by the league’s coaches over the past week.
James, 41, was the last player announced, as the league’s oldest player extended his record for both overall and consecutive selections by another season.
“Super humbling,” James said Sunday night, after the Lakers lost to the Knicks 112-100. “The coaches voted, right, so mad respect to the coaches and them seeing the way I’m still playing at this latter stage of my career.
“And to be able to be an All-Star means a lot to my family, people that have been following my career, my LeBron faithful. They’ve been following my journey and it’s always rewarding just from a humbling standpoint to be able to be rewarded for what you put your work into.”
James did not play in last season’s All-Star event because of injury.
“You think about a star player, their prime is their All-NBA, All-Star years,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “And you know, he’s basically had a 20-plus-year prime. It’s kind of unheard of. It is unheard of, uncharted, whatever you want to call it. I mean, it’s incredible. It’s a testament to the work that he puts in.”
James was joined on the court Sunday by three other All-Stars: starters Luka Doncic and Jalen Brunson, and fellow reserve selection Karl-Anthony Towns.
“Of course he deserves it,” teammate Doncic said of James. “He’s playing at a top level still at that age. It’s incredible to share the floor with him.”
The reserves named with James were led by Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant, whose 16th All-Star selection is fourth most of all time — breaking a tie with Hall of Famers Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett and putting him behind only Kobe Bryant (18), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (19) and James.
Joining James and Durant as Western Conference reserve selections included a trio of first-time participants — Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren and Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija — plus Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (fourth) and Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (fifth).
“Multiple 50-point games, multiple 50-point games in the playoffs, let’s see, triple-double in the finals, NBA champion, most wins in the West over the last 10 years, he’s the point guard of that team … in my mind, all those things make sense, except for the one that was missing,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said of Murray.
In the Eastern Conference, Towns — making his sixth All-Star team — was joined by Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (seventh), Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (fourth), Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (second) and a trio of first-time picks: Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren, Miami Heat guard Norman Powell and Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson.
“I believe that he deserves it, and I think probably one of the best compliments you can give him is the fact that he starred in all of his roles that he’s had in his career, and he just continues to get better,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of Powell. “He’s having his best years now after the age of 30.”
Under the NBA’s latest format change for the event — U.S. vs. the World — the 24 All-Star participants will be divided into three eight-player rosters — two featuring Americans, with the third made up of international players. They will each play two 12-minute games, with the two teams with the best record — or the two with the best point differential if they all go 1-1 — facing each other in the championship game.
The All-Star Game will take place at the LA Clippers‘ arena (Intuit Dome) in Inglewood, California. The Clippers were notably absent from Sunday’s announcement; despite going 16-4 over their past 20 games to partially erase a brutal start to the season, the team didn’t have any of its players selected for this year’s event.
Either Clippers star Kawhi Leonard — who since Dec. 20 has led the league in scoring and steals — or Rockets center Alperen Sengun is probably the best candidate to replace Milwaukee‘s Giannis Antetokounmpo, who will sit out the game because of a calf injury. NBA commissioner Adam Silver will pick a replacement for Antetokounmpo, plus any additional players should the need arise.
Other players chosen last month as starters were: Boston‘s Jaylen Brown, Detroit’s Cade Cunningham, Philadelphia‘s Tyrese Maxey, Golden State‘s Stephen Curry, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Denver’s Nikola Jokic and San Antonio‘s Victor Wembanyama.
Detroit’s J.B. Bickerstaff will coach one of the All-Star teams. Either San Antonio’s Mitch Johnson or Adelman will coach another — that will be decided by results of games Sunday — and the NBA has not announced how the coach of the third team will be decided.
Bickerstaff earned his nod because the Pistons lead the Eastern Conference. Johnson or Adelman will go by having the best record in the Western Conference among eligible coaches; Oklahoma City’s Mark Daigneault coaches the team with the West’s best record, but he cannot coach the All-Star Game this year because he coached at the event last season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Zach Kram
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Kevin Pelton
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Kevin Pelton
ESPN Senior Writer
- Co-author, Pro Basketball Prospectus series
- Formerly a consultant with the Indiana Pacers
- Developed WARP rating and SCHOENE system
Multiple Authors
As the calendar turns to February, the 2026 NBA All-Star Game is just two weeks away. The starters were announced on Jan. 19 and include Luka Doncic, Stephen Curry, Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama and reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the West. Jalen Brunson, Cade Cunningham, Jaylen Brown, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Tyrese Maxey were named the starters in the East.
The reserves were announced on Sunday, including Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and Kevin Durant in the West, as well as Donovan Mitchell and Karl-Anthony Towns in the East.
ESPN NBA Insiders Zach Kram and Kevin Pelton break down the full East and West rosters, including biggest surprises and snubs, and make their bold predictions.
Which player were you most surprised to see on the roster?
Pelton: LeBron James is the clear choice, but seeing Karl-Anthony Towns pop up was surprising given the pessimism over how he’s played this season on top of the Knicks’ recent slump. I think teammate Mikal Bridges has been New York’s second-best player after starter Jalen Brunson. Given Towns’ track record, the choice is certainly reasonable yet surprising nonetheless.
Kram: LeBron. It sounds silly to be surprised that a player who had made the last 21 All-Star games would make it 22 in a row. But given that James missed the first month and that his counting stats are down in his age-41 season, as well as the fierce competition in the Western Conference player pool, it was a surprise that his was the last name unveiled during the All-Star roster announcement.
Which player were you most surprised to see left off?
Pelton: Kawhi Leonard. Unless this is a secret part of the punishment from the NBA’s investigation into Leonard’s endorsement deal with Aspiration, I don’t get it. Leonard has been a top-10 player this season, and following a dreadful start, the LA Clippers have been one of the league’s hottest teams since Christmas. Anthony Edwards was the only West reserve I would have picked over Leonard. If I was taking a multi-time Finals MVP playing in L.A., Leonard was an easy choice over James.
Kram: Alperen Sengun was a first-time All-Star last season, has improved as a defender and has better counting stats across the board this year while helping lead the Houston Rockets to the second-best point differential in the West. New Rocket Kevin Durant was a shoo-in, but I think Sengun should have given Houston a second All-Star representative, even if that meant Devin Booker missed out and the surprising Phoenix Suns didn’t get a single player on the team.
Are we getting close to enough international All-Stars to do a normal USA/World 12 vs. 12 game?
Pelton: We might be closer to even in terms of internationals than East vs. West. Some of the answer depends on how creative the NBA is willing to get with its definition of international. Donovan Mitchell made the case recently to Andscape’s Marc J. Spears that he’d like to represent Panama, where his grandmother was born. If the NBA pushed every possible case like that or Kyrie Irving (born in Australia, though he grew up in the U.S.), they could get to 12 without diluting the meaning of being an All-Star.
Kram: There are almost enough worthy international players to round out a 12-person roster; if that were the framework this season, the eight actual international All-Stars would likely be joined by Sengun, Lauri Markkanen, Franz Wagner (despite a lack of playing time) and Joel Embiid. (Embiid was born in Cameroon but plays for Team USA internationally; the NBA could also choose to slot Towns, who was born in New Jersey but plays for the Dominican Republic, as an international representative.) Josh Giddey, OG Anunoby and Dillon Brooks have outside cases as well.
However, those players largely don’t have better All-Star cases than the ninth-through-12th-best Americans, so I wouldn’t advocate such a consequential change just yet. Let’s see how the format works with three teams (two American, one international) this year before deciding if the NBA should change the All-Star format once again.
Give us one bold prediction for the All-Star Game/mini-tournament.
Pelton: The NBA enjoys a short-term benefit from changing the format. Drafting teams and introducing a target score (aka the “Elam ending”) resulted in more competitive games initially before devolving into the defense-free play we’ve seen since. I could see the international team in particular taking things seriously and forcing their American opponents to up their game. However, I don’t see this or anything else “fixing” the All-Star Game long-term.
Kram: Victor Wembanyama takes MVP honors. Big men rarely win this award at the All-Star game — it’s gone to a guard or wing in 13 of the last 15 years, with Anthony Davis and Giannis Antetokounmpo as the lone exceptions — but Wembanyama is so competitive that he’ll gain an advantage just by taking the event seriously. In his first All-Star game last year, he led his team in scoring (11 points in seven minutes), and he and Chris Paul were disqualified for trying to exploit a loophole in the skills challenge.
Coach Álvaro Arbeloa admitted Jude Bellingham is “an important loss” after the midfielder was substituted just 10 minutes into Real Madrid’s 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano on Sunday. The club confirmed on Sunday evening that the issue was with Bellingham’s left hamstring.
Kylian Mbappé scored a 100th-minute penalty to give Madrid the three points in LaLiga after a tough game which saw Rayo’s Jorge de Frutos level after Vinícius Júnior‘s early goal, before the visitors had two players sent off.
The Bernabéu crowd whistled the team pre-match — and again as they struggled during the second half — after Madrid’s midweek defeat at Benfica in the Champions League.
“We don’t know about Jude yet,” Arbeloa said in his post-match news conference, when asked about Bellingham’s injury.
The England international had gone down clutching his thigh after chasing a ball down the right wing with the game still goalless, and after being consoled by teammates, limped off the pitch, looking visibly upset and wiping away tears, as he was replaced by substitute Brahim Díaz.
“[Bellingham] has made a great effort in every game since I’ve been here,” Arbeloa said. “It’s a very important loss, but we have an extraordinary squad.”
Bellingham will now undergo tests to determine the extent of the problem.
The 22-year-old’s injury could be a major concern for England boss Thomas Tuchel ahead of Wembley friendlies against Uruguay and Japan next month.
Bellingham was one of the players — alongside Vinícius — singled out by some fans with whistles before the game, as their names were announced on the stadium loudspeakers.
Bellingham has had an injury-hit season, missing the early part of the campaign after undergoing shoulder surgery last summer.
– Mbappé scores last-gasp penalty as Real Madrid edge Rayo
– Mourinho on Benfica-Madrid in UCL: We got the king
“I respect the Bernabéu crowd, and I’ll always ask for their support,” Arbeloa said, when asked about the whistles.
Arbeloa insisted that Madrid hadn’t been fortunate to be given nine minutes of added time at the end of the second half, with their winning penalty being awarded in the 98th minute, and Mbappé scoring two minutes later.
“It could have been more,” Arbeloa said. “Every time visiting teams take a goal kick here, it takes a minute.”
The coach admitted that his team need to be more consistent, after a difficult start to his time in charge.
“I’m not Gandalf the White,” Arbeloa said, referring to the fictional wizard. “What I’m getting is what I wanted from my players: commitment and effort.”
Information from PA was used in this report.
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