Mo Salah’s contract with Liverpool is set to expire at the end of this season, and reports suggest the club is considering Borussia Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi as a potential replacement. According to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg, the 22-year-old forward is on Liverpool’s shortlist as a possible successor to Salah.
Adeyemi, valued at €28 million (£23.46 million) by Transfermarkt, has shown promise this season with two goals and three assists in five Bundesliga matches. The young attacker possesses significant talent, but there are also concerns regarding his suitability as a replacement for Salah.
On the positive side, Adeyemi will only be 23 years old next season and already has a wealth of experience, having played in both the Champions League and Bundesliga. Over his career at senior and youth levels, he has made 240 appearances, contributing 90 goals and 57 assists. Adeyemi is a versatile player who can operate in multiple positions across the front line. While primarily a center-forward, he has also played as a right and left winger, with 32 and 55 appearances in those roles, respectively.
One of Adeyemi’s standout qualities is his exceptional speed. During the 2022/23 Bundesliga season, he set a record for the fastest sprint, reaching 36.65 km/h in a 5-1 victory over Freiburg. Although his record was recently surpassed by a narrow margin, Adeyemi’s pace is undoubtedly one of his strengths, making him capable of troubling defenders in the Premier League.
However, there are challenges to consider. Plettenberg has pointed out that Adeyemi has struggled with injuries, missing 33 games since the start of the 2022/23 season. This injury-prone history raises concerns about his reliability as a long-term replacement for Salah.
Additionally, replacing Salah’s goal-scoring prowess will be an immense task. The Egyptian consistently scores over 25 goals per season in the highly competitive Premier League, while Adeyemi has yet to reach double figures in a season since joining Borussia Dortmund. While the young German forward has the potential to improve, expecting him to match Salah’s numbers immediately may be unrealistic.
Finding a successor for Salah, who has been Liverpool’s best attacker over the past decade, will be incredibly difficult. Although Adeyemi brings versatility and blistering speed, it remains to be seen whether he is the best choice to fill the shoes of a player as prolific and influential as Salah.
