
Liverpool is targeting €20m forward Yan Diomande as the frontrunner to replace Mo Salah. The club is focusing on an attacking rebuild under manager Arne Slot.
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Lewis Steele: €20m forward is the ‘frontrunner’ to replace Mo Salah at Liverpool
The latest Anfield Index podcast featuring Dave Davis and Lewis Steele placed Liverpool’s attacking rebuild front and centre, with clear emphasis on the need for reinforcements. As Liverpool prepare for another season under Arne Slot, the conversation turned sharply towards recruitment, and in particular, interest in Yan Diomande.
Steele did not hesitate when outlining Liverpool’s priority. “Two attackers have got to come in to replace Mo Salah. It’s that drastic for you.” That framing captures the scale of the challenge facing the club.
He expanded on the reasoning, stating, “with him leaving, I think that replacing him is the biggest priority for Liverpool this summer.” The issue is not just replacing one player, but compensating for sustained elite output. Steele underlined the difficulty, asking, “how do you replace a player who scored that many goals in the last nine years and got x number of assists as well?”
There is no direct replacement on the market, and Steele acknowledged that reality, “there isn’t a player on the market that has those numbers.” His solution is pragmatic, “that’s why I think two forwards need to come in and you sort of replace him in the aggregate.”
Among the names discussed, Yan Diomande stood out as a leading option. Steele revealed, “I feel like Diomande is the front runner and wouldn’t be surprised at all if he is the one that ends up as the Salah replacement.”
This is not presented as a certainty, but the consistency of links is notable. Steele added, “there’s more links even coming out today around him,” reinforcing the idea that Liverpool’s interest is active rather than speculative.
Diomande fits the broader recruitment model, young, adaptable, and capable of developing further. However, Steele also urged caution around expectations, particularly for any incoming forward tasked with filling Salah’s void.
Yan Diomande is a €20m forward identified by Liverpool as a potential replacement for Mo Salah, highlighting the club's need for attacking reinforcements.
Liverpool plans to rebuild their attacking lineup by targeting two new attackers, with Yan Diomande being a primary focus.
Liverpool is reportedly willing to spend €20 million to acquire Yan Diomande as part of their squad overhaul.
Under manager Arne Slot, Liverpool is expected to undergo a significant squad reset, particularly in their attacking options.


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Just one year on from his €20m move from Spanish side Leganes, Diomande has become one of the hottest prospects on the continent.
Photo: IMAGO
Replacing Salah’s output is not a one season task. Steele made that clear, saying, “I don’t think it’s fair on him or whoever it is to expect them to suddenly be scoring 15/20 goals next season.”
That perspective aligns with Liverpool’s likely approach under Arne Slot, distributing responsibility across the forward line rather than relying on a single figure. Steele pointed towards others needing to contribute, referencing the wider attacking unit stepping up in goals and creativity.
The pressure, however, will be immediate. As Steele put it, “there’s going to be a lot of pressure on the shoulders of whoever that man is.” Whether that is Diomande or another signing, the spotlight will be intense.
Ultimately, the podcast framed this summer as pivotal. Steele described the situation bluntly, “it seems the impossible job to replace him. They’re going to have to do it.”
That responsibility now sits with Liverpool’s recruitment team. Steele acknowledged their importance, noting, “the recruitment team are more clever than most of us… and I think they earn a lot more money than we do and it’s time for them to earn their corn.”
For Liverpool and Arne Slot, the path forward is clear. Attackers must arrive, and the right profiles must be identified. Yan Diomande may be one of those pieces, but the broader strategy will determine whether Liverpool can successfully transition into a new era.