Didi Hamann urges Liverpool to sign Manchester United outcast if they lose Mohamed Salah on a free this summer – and fail in an audacious swoop for Arsenal star

Didi Hamann has sensationally urged Liverpool to go after Bukayo Saka or Jadon Sancho if they are unable to agree a contract extension with Mohamed Salah. 

The Egyptian’s contract expires at the end of this campaign, meaning he will be free to discuss terms with foreign clubs as earlier as January. 

Despite his advancing years, Salah remains one of the Premier League‘s most potent attackers, a fact best exemplified by his goal and assist in Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Chelsea on Sunday. 

Hamann, who spent seven years at Anfield, has identified lofty targets for the Reds hierarchy to pursue if they are unable to keep hold of the 32-year-old and though Saka is his preferred choice, the German believes that Sancho could be a good alternative if he rediscovers his form with the Blues. 

‘No one can replicate Mohamed Salah’s numbers and his availability,’ Hamann told Flashscore.  ‘If I had to pick another player to replace him with, Liverpool would have to go for Bukayo Saka.

Former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann has identified two targets the Reds should pursue if they lose the Egyptian 

Hamann’s preferred choice would be Arsenal star Bukayo Saka, while he believes Jadon Sancho could be a good alternative 

‘If Jadon Sancho can find the form he had at Borussia Dortmund, he could be an option to play on the right wing. In the short term, Liverpool have great forwards to fill in that spot too.’

Sancho has made five appearances for Enzo Maresca’s side since his deadline loan move from Manchester United this summer. The 24-year-old is yet to score for his new club but he has registered three assists. 

His move to west London included an obligation for the Blues to sign him permanently for £23million at the end of the season. 

Saka, meanwhile, has enjoyed a blistering start to the season which, unfortunately for Arsenal, has been curtailed by a hamstring injury. Before the setback, the England star had three goals and seven assists to his name in all competitions. 

Given his love for his boyhood club and his league-topping production, a transfer to Liverpool is an extremely remote possibility at best. 

Before Liverpool can even begin to think about potential replacements for Salah, there is the small matter of the contracts of Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold to resolve. The latter’s potential departure from Anfield has begun to induce some panic within the Liverpool fanbase and Hamann believes that the defender will find it hard to turn down interest from Real Madrid this summer. 

Trent Alexander-Arnold (left) could be lure to Real Madrid by his England teammate and friend Jude Bellingham

‘I don’t see Trent Alexander-Arnold leaving in January, but if Real Madrid come calling it will be hard for him to reject them,’ He added. ‘More and more Englishmen are playing abroad now. You can’t fault Alexander-Arnold if he does want to go.

‘Jude Bellingham is potentially drawing him to the club, and the fact they got Kylian Mbappe on a free transfer shows they can do a similar move with Alexander-Arnold next summer.’