Liverpool identify Everton's Ndiaye as shock Salah replacement option
Liverpool's search for a Mohamed Salah replacement has taken a provocative turn. The club's recruitment team has identified Everton winger Iliman Ndiaye as a serious target for the summer, according to multiple reports, a move that would test Merseyside relations like few transfers before it.
Ndiaye's numbers back the interest
Ndiaye has been one of Everton's standout performers this season, registering six goals and three assists in 25 Premier League appearances. His direct running, creativity across the front line and Premier League experience make him a ready-made option for a Liverpool side that needs to hit the ground running without Salah from next season.
Salah confirmed in March that he will leave Anfield at the end of the campaign, ending a nine-year spell at the club. The 33-year-old had signed a two-year extension in April 2025 but reached an agreement with Liverpool for an early departure, reportedly after a difficult period that included a public disagreement with manager Arne Slot.
Everton will not budge easily
Everton have made their stance clear. The club has no intention of selling Ndiaye, and certainly not to their neighbours across Stanley Park. The 26-year-old is contracted until 2029, talks over an improved deal are already underway, and he has publicly stated he is happy at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Everton's new ownership group is determined to build rather than sell, which makes prising Ndiaye away a complicated proposition. Liverpool would likely need to offer a fee well above market value to even start a conversation.
Other names on the shortlist
Ndiaye is far from Liverpool's only option. Bayern Munich's Michael Olise has been described as the top target, but Bayern have shown no willingness to negotiate. RB Leipzig forward Yan Diomande has also been linked, while Juventus winger Francisco Conceicao remains on the radar despite Liverpool publicly downplaying interest.
The reality is that replacing Salah's output on a like-for-like basis is close to impossible. Liverpool may need to reshape their attack entirely rather than find a single successor, and Slot will have to work out how to spread the goalscoring burden across a wider group of players.
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