Liverpool are perhaps going to have to replace star man Mohamed Salah during the summer transfer window.
Although he’s now comfortably into his thirties, Salah has continued to be Liverpool’s main goal and creative threat this season.
But with just a year now to run on his contract and rumours of Saudi Arabian clubs coming in to snatch him away, there’s every chance we’re into the final weeks of Mo’s time with the Reds. As upsetting a thought as that is, Liverpool can’t afford to dwell on it. Instead, they need to look at who can be brought to Anfield to try and match Salah’s output.
One option mentioned in the past has been Bayern Munich’s Leroy Sane. The 28-year-old is hitting his peak and showed exactly what he can do during Bayern’s Champions League draw with Arsenal on Tuesday.
Another to have been put forward as a more longer-term replacement is Brazilian prodigy Estevao Willian. And after Liverpool’s shocking result against Atalanta last night, Estevao signalled why he should be high on the Reds’ shortlist.
Estevao Willian demonstrates huge potential
To those unfamiliar with Estevao Willian, he’s supposedly the next wonderkid off the Palmeiras conveyorbelt.
Having already produced Endrick, the Brazilian champions are nurturing through another supposed Liverpool target – Luis Guilherme.
But among them all, there’s a feeling that Estevao might even be the best of the lot. At just 16, he’s obviously incredibly young.
However, he’s already been deemed good enough for Abel Ferreira’s first-team, and made his debut in the Copa Libertadores last night. The youngster had made six previous appearances for Palmeiras, but Thursday night’s clash was his first ever start.
Ironically, Estevao – or ‘Messinho’ as he’s sometimes known – made his full debut against Liverpool. Liverpool Montevideo that is. And he showed why he’s so highly rated by bagging his first ever professional goal.
It was not a goal associated with a flying and tricky winger. Instead, it was a flicked back post header from just outside the six-yard box. But it showed his credentials as a huge talent all the same. Liverpool should be taking notes.
Liverpool looking at Brazilian market
Estevao is not the only Brazilian talent Liverpool are currently looking at. As mentioned, Guilherme is another they’ve reportedly got their eye on – he also started for Palmeiras last night.
And one more on the Reds’ radar is said to be Sport Recife right-back Pedro Lima. Already a first-team player at just 17, Lima looks primed for a move to Europe in the near future.
So too does Estevao. And after news emerged this week that Real Madrid’s Rodrygo Goes turned down a move to Liverpool at a similar age to these prodigies, Liverpool should be even more focused on ensuring they don’t miss out again.
Messinho is going to cost whoever does get him an absolute bomb. But if he ends up being even half as good as Salah has been, he’s worth looking at.