Liverpool are reportedly “creating a succession plan” as Ben Jacobs has discussed the prospect of the club “getting rid” of Mo Salah or Roberto Firmino.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Salah and Firmino have been vital to Liverpool’s success under Jurgen Klopp over the past few years. They have helped the club win the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
Liverpool are in transition at the moment. Sadio Mane left the club last summer and more players are expected to move on later this year.
The Reds are likely to bring in reinforcements in defence and midfield, but they are well-covered in attacking areas. Along with Salah and Firmino, they have Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz to choose from.
Jacobs is reporting that unlike Chelsea, Liverpool are “very consistent in their narrative to players”.
“Obviously a player like Gakpo isn’t going anywhere,” Jacobs told TEAMtalk. “He’s only just joined Liverpool and they also appreciate Jota at this point.
“Luis Diaz still has a role to play too so on paper, it does look like Liverpool have got maybe one too many forward-thinking players, but they’re versatile.
“They can slot into different systems and formations and they’re all good characters as well that are quite prepared to buy into rotation. This is why Liverpool have got a lot of stability.
“So whereas Chelsea have got a big squad and everyone wants to play, Liverpool are very consistent in their narrative to players.
“They understand their pathways in the first team and they respect and appreciate how Klopp chooses to balance his squad.”
Despite this, Salah and Firmino are both being linked with moves elsewhere.
Salah has penned a new deal until 2025 but he is said to be attracting interest from Real Madrid. Firmino meanwhile is out of contract this summer and he is yet to commit his future to Liverpool.
Jacobs adds that Liverpool’s intention would be to “bring in a younger star for the future” so they would not need to “get rid” of Salah or Firmino.
“That’s part of creating a succession plan for one or two of the older players like Salah and Firmino,” Jacobs added.
“I don’t think it’s about replacing, I think it’s more about planning. So what Liverpool want to do is bring in a younger star for the future that can be part of a succession plan, rather than getting rid of and then replacing one of their star names.
“This is what Liverpool have always done very well, they made sure that they went windows ahead.
“They’ve also had that smoothness of transition to not have to scramble in the market and try and buy urgently because a player leaves unexpectedly or they have a hole in their system.
“As a consequence, it’s all very calm from Liverpool’s perspective.”
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