Liverpool have reportedly earmarked Juventus attacker Federico Chiesa as a potential successor to Mohamed Salah.
Salah's future was called into question last year after the Egypt international refused to rule out a transfer to Barcelona or Real Madrid in the future, but he ultimately agreed a new deal with Jurgen Klopp's side until 2025 in July.
The 30-year-old has once again been a regular fixture in the Reds' starting XI during the 2022-23 season, posting 17 goals and six assists from 29 games in all tournaments.
However, Salah has struggled to show his best form since the World Cup, and he is without a goal or assist in his last four Premier League appearances for the struggling Reds.
Despite rewarding the former Chelsea man with a new contract over the summer, Liverpool are supposedly growing concerned by his downturn in form and could be convinced to part ways with him at the end of the season.
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According to Calciomercatoweb, Juventus and Italy winger Chiesa has emerged as a leading contender to replace Salah at Anfield, in spite of his injury-plagued season in Turin.
The Bianconeri were recently hit with a 15-point deduction in Serie A due to alleged false accounting and financial irregularities, dropping them down to 10th place in the table.
As a result, a wealth of Massimiliano Allegri's star names are being tipped to leave in January or the summer, and the report claims that Liverpool and Juve's strong working relationship could help a deal for Chiesa move along quickly.
The 25-year-old spent two years on loan in Turin from Fiorentina, and his move was only made permanent in the summer, but a ruptured cruciate ligament has restricted him to just eight appearances this season.
Chiesa supposedly wants to remain at Juventus for the time being and showcase his best form after returning from injury, but it is believed that he would be open to a future move to Anfield.
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The Italy international, who starred in the Azzurri's run to the Euro 2020 title, has amassed a total of 19 goals and 16 assists in 69 games for Juve, where he is under contract until 2025.
Liverpool are rumoured to be after a fee of €80m (£70.6m) to part ways with Salah, who is reportedly on the radar of Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Salah was apparently seen dining with PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi amid speculation surrounding his future, but the Qatari chief is known to be seeking Premier League investment, and the discussion was not thought to have been centred around a potential transfer.
The Egyptian has come up with 173 goals and 69 assists in 283 appearances for the Merseyside giants since arriving from Roma in 2017, winning the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, EFL Cup, Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup and Community Shield in that time.
Salah and Liverpool are next in action away to Brighton & Hove Albion for the fourth round of the FA Cup on Sunday evening.
Ben Knapton
