Liverpool line up shock double deal for Barcelona pair with Salah now ‘likely’ to leave Anfield

Joe Williams
Liverpool transfer targets Ansu Fati and Abde Ezzalzouli
Ansu Fati and Abde Ezzalzouli have been linked with a move to Liverpool.

Liverpool have made an enquiry over Barcelona duo Ansu Fati and Abde Ezzalzouli as uncertainty grows over Mo Salah’s future, according to reports.

The Reds could be set for a busy final few days of the transfer window with numerous rumours of incomings and outgoings swirling about.

Speculation that Salah could be on his way out of Anfield has been building over the last week with rumours Al-Ittihad are preparing a €150m (£128m) offer and willing to offer him wages of around £191m a year.

And today ex-Premier League striker Jan Aage Fjortoft reported that Salah is now ‘likely’ to leave Liverpool this summer as Al-Ittihad push for a transfer.

The former Sheffield United and Barnsley striker, who now works in the media for Viaplay, wrote on Twitter: “I understand it’s likely that Salah will leave Liverpool this week.”

Fjortoft added: “The money offered to player AND club is just unbelievable. The fact that the transfer window in Saudi Arabia closes 7th of September (as stated at Saudi – FA site – other places says even 20th) makes this also more complicated.”

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And now Liverpool have turned their attention to possible replacements with Spanish publication Sport claiming that the Reds have ‘asked’ about Barcelona duo Fati and Abde.

Liverpool are curious about the ‘situation’ of the pair with Jurgen Klopp ‘studying how to cover the eventual departure of Mohamed Salah’ and the Reds boss has ‘communicated to the Barcelona leaders that they would be interested’ in the two forwards if Salah leaves.

Klopp’s side would ‘not be the only Premier League club interested’ in Fati’s services with numerous reports over the past couple of years that Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea and others are admirers of the Spain international.

Due to the club’s circumstances, Sport add that Barcelona have ‘no longer ruled out that one of the two could leave’ with the Catalan giants attempting to stick to Financial Fair Play rules.

Former Liverpool winger Steve McManaman said earlier this week that there’s “no chance this move will happen” when speaking about Al-Ittihad’s interest in Salah.

McManaman told Betfred: “Maybe he does want the move right now, but I have no idea if I’m being completely honest. The timing of this move is so, so wrong, that it’ll never happen in this current window.

“I don’t believe it’s a case of money because it’s too late in the window and for Liverpool to lose Mo Salah now for £100-£200 million is impossible to consider.

“If it happened in June, then maybe. Next June? Possibly. Probably. However, with days remaining in the window, there’s no chance this move will happen because Jürgen Klopp won’t allow it to happen.

“The move could happen next season because he’s 32 and if the figures being mentioned remain the same, then of course it’s something that both Liverpool and Mo will look at. Of course, if the money’s right it will benefit the player and the club.

“If Mo asks to leave next summer, then I’m sure it’s something that Liverpool will consider. It’s like when Real Madrid allowed Casemiro to leave because the money was so good. When a player has been at your club for such a long time and has been a superstar for you, then you’re not going to deny them a move.”