Brentford talisman named as £32m Liverpool Mohamed Salah replacement - and it's not Ivan Toney

Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo has emerged as a curveball Mohamed Salah replacement for Liverpool, should the Egyptian King complete a big-money move to Saudi Arabia this summer.

The Express has reported that the Merseyside club could target Mbeumo, who had picked up seven Premier League goals this season before sustaining a serious ankle injury at the start of December. The 24-year-old joined Brentford from Troyes in 2019 and has racked up 190 appearances for the club in that time.

It's set to be a summer of change for Liverpool with manager Jurgen Klopp stepping down from his role with Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso and Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi both touted as possible replacements. Salah could also quit Anfield come the end of the campaign, having come close to a bumper £200 million move to Al-Ittihad last summer.

More bids are expected to come in this year and it could be the moment for the Liverpool star striker to move on as Klopp departs. Replacing the Premier League legend will be hard but the Reds are believed to have seen something in Mbeumo, who is valued at £32 million by Transfermarkt.

The Express adds that Mbeumo could be available at a 'bargain price' if struggling Brentford are relegated to the Championship and cite his 'pace and power' as qualities that would make him a suitable Salah replacement.

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The outlet also quotes an interview given by Stan Collymore to CaughtOffside earlier this year. The former player said: “I think top sides should be taking a closer look at Bryan Mbeumo – I love him! It may surprise some of you but Mbeumo is my favourite player in the Premier League. I think he’s quality.

“Whenever I watch him, he gets the ball close to his feet, he’s very direct, he makes excellent runs in the channels, he can drop deep, he holds the ball up really well, he is very supportive of his striking partner, he gets in the box and poaches goals, he’s physically strong. I could go on and on. He’s a great player! If Salah does end up leaving Liverpool this summer then I certainly think Jurgen Klopp should consider Brentford’s number 19.”