Liverpool’s attempts to identify a replacement for Mohamed Salah before the summer window opens have hit a series of walls, and the most recent one was built by Paris Saint-Germain over the Kvaratskhelia enquiry.
The Reds made their interest known in the Georgian winger, who has registered 12 goals and seven assists this season and was central to PSG’s treble-winning campaign last year. The response from Paris was unambiguous: he is not for sale, the price to even begin conversations would be approximately £160 million, and neither the player nor the club has any interest in a move.
Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise and PSG duo Desire Doue and Bradley Barcola have each come back with similar “not available” responses to Liverpool’s preliminary enquiries, meaning the club has encountered four straight rejections without getting as far as a formal offer.
The problem has a structural dimension that goes beyond any individual target. Clubs with genuine world-class attacking players are simply not interested in selling them to a direct European rival, and Liverpool’s position as Champions League winners makes them a threat that nobody wants to strengthen.
Steven Gerrard’s suggestion of Jarrod Bowen as a potential heir drew predictable debate, with the former captain conceding the West Ham captain is “a top player” but uncertain he is at Salah’s level.
One avenue that has recently opened is a Juventus forward whose identity has not been widely confirmed, with TEAMtalk reporting Liverpool have been “carrying out extensive work” on the Turin club’s attacking options.
The Salah situation adds additional urgency. He confirmed his departure this week in an emotional social media video, and his agent has made clear that no decision on his next club has been reached.
Saudi Arabia remains the most credible destination, with talks described as advanced, and the world will watch to see whether a farewell to one of the Premier League’s greatest ever players takes him to Riyadh or somewhere else entirely.
