Is Leroy Sane the perfect replacement for Mohamed Salah?
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The possibility that Salah will come to Saudi Arabia next summer cannot be ruled out, and Liverpool is looking for a worthy replacement player.
Liverpool’s decision to turn down all offers from Al-Ittihad for Mohamed Salah just before the end of the transfer window proved correct, with their Egyptian king being one of the main reasons why they returned to the top 4 of the Premier League and dream of an unexpected challenge for the championship title.
However, while Liverpool not letting the striker leave is not entirely surprising, given he remains important to the team under Jurgen Klopp, it feels like it is merely delaying the inevitable. It’s still hard to see Salah moving in the January transfer window, regardless of how much money is on the table, but next summer could be a different story altogether.
After all, he will turn 32 next June and only has one year left on his contract, so it makes sense for Liverpool to wait until now to sell their talented player. Of course, finding a replacement won’t be easy, even with some excellent options.
However, currently, one name is generating more transfer rumors than anyone else — Leroy Sane. And while it is easy to understand why Liverpool might see him as the perfect successor to Salah, skepticism from fans is also understandable.
Too Familiar
Liverpool is well aware of the danger Sane can create. During his time at Manchester City, he scored four goals against Liverpool, and that was the only loss Liverpool suffered in the 2018-2019 Premier League season — this match played a decisive role in The most dramatic and intense championship title race in history.
However, fans will also remember that by the time of the legendary match at the Etihad, Sane was no longer certain to play from the start. Although he scored a career-high 16 goals that season, there was speculation that Sane wanted to leave.
Guardiola certainly does not hide the fact that he is no longer completely satisfied with the 2017-2018 PFA Young Player of the Year. The problem lies in Sane’s ability to work. Guardiola believes the youngster does not fulfill his defensive duties when the team is not in possession and admits that he feels frustrated with Sane’s famously relaxed attitude, as he believes it hinders the progress of this striker.
«I demand a lot from him and sometimes I like to criticize him,» the Catalan coach confessed to reporters in April 2019. «We know his potential and want to help him achieve it.» gain more stability in the match.»
However, Guardiola was not successful in that, with Sane only completing a transfer to Bayern in 2020 after suffering a serious knee injury in a Community Shield match against Liverpool the previous year.
Sane encountered many difficulties in Munich
The change in environment did not alleviate the doubts about Sane. If anything, that doubt is compounded by the fact that many in Munich feel that the striker is simply not the right fit for Bayern; He lacks the consistency, determination, and winning spirit that the Allianz Stadium requires.
Sane continued to score goals, scoring at least 10 in all competitions in his first three seasons at the club, but he only shined sporadically.
When he arrived at Bayern, he spoke excitedly about playing under Hansi Flick, whom he first met while playing for Germany’s Under-21 team. However, it later emerged that Flick pushed Bayern to sign Timo Werner instead of Sane. So the deal was mainly the work of Hasan Salihamidzic, as Sane admitted, and explained that the sporting executive had «favored the transfer from the first moment».
In that context, it is not surprising that Sane is having difficulty. Flick frequently questioned his work ethic and rarely gave him the full 90 minutes on the field.
The perfect replacement for the Red Brigade?
But is Sane the right man to replace Salah at Liverpool? Liverpool is said to be willing to break its transfer record to recruit Sane next summer when he only has one year left on his contract with Bayern.
Naturally, there are also some concerns regarding the way Sane’s career at Manchester City went downhill before experiencing similar difficulties for much of his time at Munich. However, information from Bayern indicates that Sane has matured, he is ready to realize his late potential in his peak years. You’ve always had the talent, but now it seems you also have the necessary patience. His diligence in defense has improved to the point where we can see him thriving under Klopp.
Of course, there are also tactical elements, as Sane needs a freer role. You can’t be tied to one wing. At Bayern, he often switched wing positions with Kingsley Coman, while also moving into the central area. But while Salah spends most of his time on the right wing, that doesn’t mean he is bound to the touchline. He is allowed to move freely, and it is worth noting that Liverpool has the most versatile forward line in Europe, with players capable of playing in many positions on the pitch.
Ultimately, however, it will all depend on Sane and his ability to achieve the level of consistency he has lacked for so long. If he can do that, there is no reason why Liverpool should not make him a main transfer target.
Perhaps fans still dream about signing Kylian Mbappe, but the reality is that the current version of Sane is even more suitable to replace Salah at Anfield.
