Why Sane is Liverpool's perfect long-term Salah replacement
Liverpool are doing the right thing by targeting Leroy Sane as a potential Mohamed Salah replacement.
Salah was heavily linked with a big-money switch to Saudi Arabia in the summer. While Liverpool held firm in resisting the temptation of sums in the region of €100 million to €150m, the expectation is that the nouveau riche Pro League will return to lure the Egyptian King to Saudi Arabia.
Reigning champions Al-Ittihad were at the forefront of the push for Salah and even if a January move seems unlikely at this stage, the summer could prove to be a different beast altogether. Salah is on the wrong side of 30 now and many believe that Liverpool would be foolish not to cash in on the legendary winger given the money on offer.
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Should the Reds finally budge, they will need to sign a high-profile name to replace a man who has scored 192 goals since joining the club. According to recent reports, Leroy Sane is among the names being considered as a potential option.
Why Sane to Liverpool makes sense
And this is a move that would make sense for all involved. Sane is arguably Europe's most in-form winger at the moment and he is showing no signs of slowing down.
The German's contract expires in 2025 and while Bayern are said to be very keen on extending his deal, convincing him could prove difficult if the chance of a potential return to the Premier League presents itself. It is a league the former Man City man knows well and one where has previously excelled.
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Sane turns 28 in January, meaning that Liverpool could still get a solid three to four years at the top level out of him. Bayern will be loathe to lose a player in his prime, but the promise of receiving a massive fee for a player they paid less than €50 million for could be too good to resist.
Indeed, according to data experts SciSports, Liverpool is the perfect destination for Sane, a better club for him to ply his trade at than even his current side.
Leroy Sane's five best-suited clubs
Team | Club Fit |
---|---|
Liverpool | 85 |
Bayern Munich | 82 |
Real Madrid | 79 |
Man City | 78 |
Bayer Leverkusen | 74 |
SciSports uses thousands of data points to generate a 'club fit' rating, and for Sane, it shows that Anfield is a place where he would thrive. The Reds boast a club fit rating of 85, the highest of any club, ahead of Bayern with 82 and Real Madrid with 79.