Gerrard only wants the best at Liverpool (Picture: Getty)
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard agrees the club need to sign a ‘box office’ winger like Michael Olise to replace Mohamed Salah this summer.
Salah has confirmed he will leave Anfield at the end of the season to bring the curtains down on an extraordinary nine-year career on Merseyside.
The Egypt international’s influence has waned this season with the club now facing a huge task in replacing the man who is their third all-time top goalscorer.
Reports from France this week have claimed Bayern Munich star Olise has emerged as Liverpool’s early target with Arsenal and Chelsea also huge admirers of the former Crystal Palace winger.
Olise has grown into one of Europe’s best widemen since leaving south London in the summer of 2024, part of a fearsome front three in Munich alongside Harry Kane and Luis Diaz – the latter sold by Liverpool last summer.
Bayern have no intention of letting the France international leave but former Manchester United star Owen Hargreaves has urged Liverpool to test the water.
‘If you’re Liverpool you have to go for someone ready, tried and tested. And for me that would be Olise. Someone of that calibre,’ Hargreaves told TNT Sport.
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Liverpool are in the market to replace Mohamed Salah this summer (Action Images via Reuters)
With Gerrard asking if Bayern would sell, Hargreaves added: ‘If you don’t ask you don’t get. But if you’re talking Olise on the right hand side, that is box office. If you have [PSG star Bradley] Barcola then on the left, guys who can get past anybody.’
Having suggested Olise would indeed fit the bill, Gerrard said: ‘I’d be very surprised if they don’t be someone who is box office. Or you’re not replacing them.
‘They have to be top end, top three of four in the world to replace Mo Salah. Because that is where he has been.’
Olise is also wanted by Chelsea and Arsenal (Picture:Getty)
Jarrod Bowen has been another name suggested as a possible replacement for Salah although Gerrard is not convinced the West Ham United captain is of the required standard.
The former England star has however been impressed with his Hammers teammate Crysencio Summerville, who has predominantly played off the left this season.
‘I’d take Summerville,’ Gerrard said. ‘I think he has got something different, for a team that has been struggling he has been a shining light and got better as the season has gone on.
‘I really like Bowen but I don’t think he’s Salah’s level to replace him but I think Liverpool will look for more one-on-one merchants.’
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