Salah’s extension not a problem as Liverpool step up pursuit of Super Eagles star

Six-time UEFA Champions League winners, Liverpool, are interested in signing Super Eagles and Atalanta attacker, Ademola Olajade Lookman, despite Mo Salah’s new two-year deal, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 2024 CAF Player of the Year has scored 18 goals and provided six assists for La Dea across all competitions this season. However, the 27-year-old has a strained relationship with the club’s coach, Gian Piero Gasperini, fuelling exit talks ahead of the summer transfer window.

Lookman has been on Liverpool’s radar for a while, as many thought the Merseysiders were eyeing him as a potential replacement for Mo Salah due to the Egyptian’s complicated contract situation at Anfield. In the end, the former Roma winger penned a two-year extension with Arne Slot’s side.

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According to Italian outlet, Il Giorno, Liverpool are still interested in making a deal happen for the former RB Leipzig attacker.

Arne Slot’s side are looking to bring in a dynamic and versatile forward who can play in any role across Liverpool’s front line, similar to Luis Diaz, who is on Barcelona’s books.

Salah will be 33 years old at the start of next season, and the Liverpool board are looking to bring in a player who’ll make the team as a whole less dependent on the Egyptian to put the ball into the back of the net.

Additionally, the 19-time English Champions will be featuring in at least four club competitions next season, and squad depth will be very important.

Lookman has played in the Premier League before with Everton, Fulham and Leicester City, but none of the stints in these clubs were impressive, and as such, it is pertinent that the Nigerian forward might feel he has some unfinished business in the English top-flight.

However, at this stage of his career, he’ll want to be an undisputed starter in whichever club he moves to. Cody Gakpo and Mohammed Salah are currently untouchable in Arne Slot’s starting lineup, but centrally, Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota have not been impressive. Still, Lookman operates better on the left.

On a bigger scale, Liverpool are about to be crowned Premier League Champions, setting a precedent for even more success next season, and Lookman will want to be a part of that.

Meanwhile, the player has been linked with Manchester United as well. The player is likely to cost around £50m. For the Red Devils to stand a chance of bringing Lookman to Old Trafford, they’ll have to lift the UEFA Europa League title. Ruben Amorim’s side are also in talks with Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen.