A Liverpool team without Mohamed Salah might not be the disaster many fans fear after Diogo Jota revealed which Reds star will soon take the Champions League by storm.
Salah, 29, remains Liverpool’s most potent attacking weapon. Despite a rare barren run from open play that was finally broken against Manchester United on Tuesday, Salah remains by far and away Liverpool’s top scorer this season.
Indeed, his mark of 30 is nine more than Jota has plundered this year and 11 higher than Sadio Mane’s total.
As such, Liverpool fans have begun to become increasingly anxious with Salah’s contract stand-off continuing to rumble on.
The Egyptian has made no secret of his desire to remain at Anfield. However, the hold-up – despite his protestations to FourFourTwo – is believed to be regarding money.
The winger’s contract is due to expire in the summer of 2023. Mane and Firmino’s deals are also up at that time, meaning Liverpool might be looking for more Luis Diaz-type deals sooner than many expect.
However, if Diogo Jota’s comments are anything to go by, Liverpool may already have the perfect replacement for Mo Salah already on the books.
“Who will take over the Champions League?”
When being interviewed by PlayStation, the Portuguese was asked which Liverpool player will “take over the Champions League.”
Without hesitation, Jota replied: “Kaide Gordon. His future looks great.”
The 17-year-old was snapped up from Derby County in 2021 for an initial £1m fee that could rise to £3m.
Gordon has already featured twice for Liverpool in the EFL Cup this year and was handed his Premier League debut off the bench against Brentford in January.
Like Salah, Gordon is a left-footed right winger and Jota isn’t the only one tipping him for big things.
Prior to Gordon’s start against Arsenal in the EFL Cup on January 20, Jurgen Klopp said: “He is an outstanding talent.
“He is always in my mind as long as he is fit.”
Liverpool’s recruitment has been heralded in recent years with their hit-rate on big-money acquisitions unparalleled.
However, their ability to identify and sign rising stars who could go on to be major players is now coming to the fore.
Harvey Elliott has taken great strides forward this season after arriving from Fulham in 2019. The Reds have recently wrapped up a second deal with the Cottagers for 19-year-old Fabio Carvalho who will arrive in the summer.
But if Jota’s comments are anything to go by, the player who’ll be making the biggest headlines in the years to come might just be Kaide Gordon.
