It was back to winning ways for Liverpool following the international break, with the Reds eventually overcoming a stubborn Everton 2-0 in the Merseyside Derby.
Despite having a quiet game, Mo Salah showed his worth in a red shirt for the umpteenth time, sealing the win with a penalty and a late breakaway goal.
The Egyptian King has so far made the club’s decision to rebuff two bids from Al Ittihad look like the correct one, with the 31-year-old amongst the form players in the Premier League. Salah now has 11 combined goals and assists in nine league games, more than any other top-flight player.
Kopites around the world are bracing themselves for the possibility that this could be Mo’s last season at Anfield, with further bids from the Saudi Premier League expected in January and beyond.
Several big names have been suggested as possible replacements, including Bayern Munich stars Jamal Musiala and Leroy Sané. German outlet Sport Bild described the Reds as being ‘interested’ in Musiala last week.
On the latest episode of our Journo Insight show, we asked experienced LFC reporter Neil Jones for his take on the rumours.
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Neil said:
“I think my first thought would be there is no way Bayern Munich are going to let him go anytime soon.
“He’s already a massive player for them – scored the goal which won them the title last year. He’s the jewel in the crown, the star of German football. The contract situation – two and half years left. You would expect that there’ll be some renewal coming in. I don’t imagine he’s on the kind of contract which befits the ‘jewel in the crown’.
“It wasn’t one that jumped out and I thought, ‘Liverpool could get that kind of player.’ It looks to me, like a player that would be very, very difficult to get out of Bayern Munich. I would expect him to renew his contract at Bayern Munich, personally.
“Musiala is a completely different type of player really to Salah in terms of where he plays. Sané – you don’t look at Liverpool signing a player of that age, at that outlay.”
“I don’t see them spending all that money on Osimhen, for example. I don’t see them spending all that money on Sané.
“I think everyone would love to have Musiala in their squad. I’d be amazed if Bayern were allowing that situation to get into one where he was to leave.”
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Redmen Reacts
The eyes of Liverpool fans around the world will have lit up at the Jamal Musiala links which appeared last week following reports contract negotiations had stalled. His profile is, in some ways, that of a typical FSG-era signing – young and talented with European experience and a good total of league appearances. Unfortunately, it is his price tag which does not feel realistic at this point in time. His price point would be similar to that of Jude Bellingham – and we all know how that ended up.
Unlike former teammate Ryan Gravenberch, Musiala is not unsettled and is rapidly becoming the key man for both club and country. With two-and-a-half years left on his deal, Bayern have time to make him an offer in keeping with his now elite status. The implication of the rumours is that Liverpool will simply slap down a huge sack of Saudi riyals they could receive for Mo Salah in the hope of luring the German international to Anfield. This is not in keeping with the way they have done business in the past, so it would represent a complete change of tack from the manager and the transfer committee.
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