Liverpool's cheap Mo Salah replacement had Kylian Mbappe purring and is 'like Lionel Messi'

Should Mohamed Salah depart Anfield successful the summer, 1 imaginable replacement has caught Liverpool’s oculus successful the past and has earned plaudits from Kylian Mbappe

Potential Liverpool people Rayan Cherki has been compared to Lionel Messi and lauded by Kylian Mbappe arsenic Mohamed Salah's declaration concern remains unresolved.

With Salah yet to renew his deal, the anticipation that this could be his last year connected Merseyside is simply a world that is opening to acceptable in. While clip remains betwixt between present and the summertime for a solution to beryllium found, determination are a scope of options Arne Slot could crook to if he's forced to to find a replacement for the Egyptian star.

One of those names that has reportedly garnered Liverpool's interest successful the past is Cherki - a prodigious attacking endowment who has earned his stripes astatine Lyon and with France’s 2024 Olympic squad.

Cherki made his Ligue 1 debut astatine lone 16 - erstwhile helium played his mode into the limelight - and Lyon’s youngest-ever goalscorer hasn’t looked back. However, with a reported gentleman’s statement present successful spot for the guardant to depart, this could beryllium the clip for Liverpool to onslaught and unafraid the 21-year-old’s services.

The Frenchman has agelong been connected the radar of apical European clubs, and rumours swirled adjacent the extremity of 2024 that Liverpool, successful particular, had enquired astir his availability.

Among the player’s admirers is chap countryman Mbappe, who, erstwhile Cherki was aged conscionable 16, posted a telling remark to societal media successful 2020, saying: “Don’t talk excessively overmuch astir age.”

This praising plea from Mbappe lone boosted the hype surrounding Cherki - thing mirrored by Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas, who compared the prodigy to an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.

“Cherki is comparable to (Lionel) Messi successful presumption of method quality,” Aulas told Téléfoot, making it rather evident successful what respect his existent employers clasp Cherki.

However, it was different all-time footballing large that the Frenchman alternatively chose to liken himself to and prime retired arsenic an idol worthy emulating.

“I americium present to supply joyousness for radical and to besides bask myself excessively and I deliberation that is what makes the difference, whilst being businesslike each the while,” Lyon’s playmaker stated successful 2024. “I had tons of idols but the 1 that I deliberation is the champion and the illustration to travel is Cristiano Ronaldo. Regarding his enactment and his longevity, that is the illustration that you person to follow.”

It is specified speech that has seen Liverpool, according to L’Equipe, support tabs connected Cherki - who could depart Lyon for the chopped terms of conscionable £19million, arsenic per an alleged gentleman’s agreement. However, the French quality outlet besides reports that PSG are interested, and CaughtOffside believes that Bayern Munich are different broadside that person enquired astir recruiting Cherki.

Despite lone registering 22 goals and 33 assists successful implicit 150 games for his existent club, Cherki's playmaking quality and flair acceptable him apart. While helium apt would not regenerate the goals that Salah has brought to Anfield, his quick-footed dynamism, which sees him flit betwixt being a wide subordinate and attacking no.10, would nary uncertainty adhd an borderline to Slot’s broadside - and it wouldn't travel astatine excessively hefty a cost, either.

Join our caller WhatsApp communityand person your regular dose of Mirror Football content. We besides dainty our assemblage members to peculiar offers, promotions, and adverts from america and our partners. If you don't similar our community, you tin cheque retired immoderate clip you like. If you're curious, you tin work our Privacy Notice.