Liverpool transfer news: Two Mohamed Salah replacements assessed as "questions around Antoine Semenyo" persist

Liverpool will be in the market for a Mohamed Salah replacement if they sell him in January amid links to Antoine Semenyo and Rodrygo, Reds expert David Lynch has insisted.

The Merseysiders extended their unbeaten streak to five games when they beat Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0 on Saturday, with Salah providing an assist for Hugo Ekitike's second goal.

Having spoken out publicly against Arne Slot and other figures behind the scenes, there are fears that the Egyptian could depart in the January transfer window.

Lynch was certain that Liverpool would sign a replacement for Salah in the event of a departure, with Real Madrid's Rodrygo and Bournemouth's Semenyo linked, though he was cautious about the latter, telling Sports Mole: "They'd have to sign someone because they were already a forward short.

"They've got Chiesa but the manager doesn't fancy him, and one of the other forwards is 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha, who is very highly rated and they are genuinely leaving a path open for him, but in the short term they don't want to throw him into this situation.

"With some of the names around, I still have questions around Semenyo, which are to do with his finishing and whether he was just on a hot streak."

Semenyo has been consistently touted as a target for January, and his £65m release clause may make him an appealing market opportunity for the Merseysiders.

Antoine Semenyo: Is Bournemouth winger right fit for Liverpool?

Semenyo is Bournemouth's highest scorer (six) and joint highest assist provider (three) in all competitions, but the forward has failed to register a direct goal involvement in his last seven games for the club.

The 25-year-old scored six Premier League goals in his first seven top flight fixtures this term from an xG total of 3.7, and he has since failed to find the back of the net in seven league matches from 1.6 xG.

Lynch suggested Semenyo would make more sense if he was not viewed as Liverpool's primary goal threat, when he told Sports Mole: "If Semenyo is signed and isn't seen as their main shot provider, then maybe he makes sense.

"Liverpool will want to feed more of their shots through to their centre-forwards, which they haven't done well at all this season and they didn't do well last season.

"If they are transitioning to the centre-forward getting the shots and moving away from the wingers, then Semenyo makes a little bit more sense."

Wingers Federico Chiesa, Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo all rank in the top four for shots per 90 for Liverpool in the Premier League above Alexander Isak, and it is not surprising that the striker has struggled given his lack of involvement.

Liverpool transfer targets: Could Rodrygo of Real Madrid be signed?

The Reds have also been linked to the signature of Real Madrid forward Rodrygo, who has only played 663 minutes this season in all competitions for Los Blancos.

Rodrygo is capable of playing from either the left or right side of attack, and having played alongside Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior, the 24-year-old is no stranger to facilitating for other forwards.

Speaking to Sports Mole, Lynch argued that Rodrygo would not be a direct replacement for Salah, but rather a supporting act for Isak and Ekitike, saying: "They're looking for a completely different kind of forward, and they'd be better if they get someone who can facilitate their strikers.

"Liverpool were put off in the summer because of Rodrygo's wage demands, but we've seen him play down that right side as a facilitator, so he's definitely capable.

"If Liverpool think that it's a worthwhile deal, they'll be interested, but ultimately the key thing is getting the right profile in. They have to be different to Salah, which is fortunate because there's nobody out there like him anyway."

Liverpool will hope to keep Salah beyond the winter window, but they may have to plan for a life without their talisman sooner rather than later.