Liverpool have now been told an asking price for one Arne Slot target – who has been compared to Sadio Mane.
Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes have a busy year ahead, as Jurgen Klopp prepares to depart after nine years at Anfield.
The CEO of Football and the Director of Football at Anfield will also – potentially – both have to make some ruthless decisions, as club legends such as Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk approach the final 12 months of their contracts.
One man who could replace Salah – if a sale is sanctioned – is PSV Eindhoven No.11 Johan Bakayoko, and the Dutch side have now named their asking price…
PSV Eindhoven tell Liverpool how much they want for Johan Bakayoko
PSV Eindhoven have told Liverpool they want a new club record fee to sell the Belgium international this summer – according to HLN.
As things stand, the Eredivisie outfit’s record sale is the £35m Liverpool handed over to sign Cody Gakpo – so PSV Eindhoven will at least want to see that sum matched.
In fairness, PSV Eindhoven are entitled to make this demand, as Bakayoko has enjoyed a fantastic 2023/24 campaign.
The Belgian has scored 14 goals while also providing 14 assists in 46 appearances across all competitions this season, with two of these goal involvements coming in the UEFA Champions League.
Why the Belgian could replace Mohamed Salah
We mentioned at the start of the article that Bakayoko could replace Salah.
That is not an inside scoop, but merely a presumption based on how similar the two are – Graeme Souness is one pundit who expects the Liverpool No.11 to depart this summer.
Like Salah, Bakayoko tends to line up on the right where he causes chaos when cutting inside on his stronger left foot – for similar reasons, he has also been likened to Bukayo Saka.
Despite the 21-year-old’s likeness to the Egypt international, scouting page Foot The Ball have actually compared the Liverpool target to Mane, citing his immense work rate as comparable to the Senegal international.
If Bakayoko is even 50% of the player Mane was at Liverpool – where he scored 120 goals in 269 appearances – then Slot and Edwards should be more than happy to pay around £35m for his signature.