Mo Salah leaving Liverpool for Real Madrid 'could be a good thing' for the Reds - but Sadio Mane is more likely to switch to the Bernabeu.
That's the verdict of former Liverpool midfielder Mohamed Sissoko, who says Salah could be replaced by Liverpool, but insists it is Mane who has the qualities Madrid would be looking for.
Both players have been linked with moves away from Anfield - an inevitable consequence of Liverpool's huge success over the past year.
Jurgen Klopp's side have followed last season's Champions League triumph by winning the UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup, and were on target to win the Premier League by a whopping margin before the season was halted due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Sissoko says he is not sure whether either Mane or Salah will stay at Anfield this summer - but insists Liverpool have got talented young players who can step up if either of them leaves.
“I don’t know if Salah will stay at Liverpool," Sissoko told Europa Calcio. "If he left, it could also be a good thing for Liverpool – they’re a clever club and they’d know how to replace him.
“There are some fantastic youngsters who have what it takes to play for the Reds and put in top performances.”
Asked whether Salah could join Madrid, Sissoko said: “No, I think Sadio Mane is likelier to, because he has the characteristics that Zidane wants – he really rates him. I think Sadio Mane will go to Real Madrid.”
Sissoko, who also played for Juventus and Valencia, played for Liverpool from 2005 to 2009, making 87 appearances.
He described the club as "something special", and with football currently suspended due to coronavirus, he said he hoped they would get the chance to wrap up their first top-flight title in 30 years - which woulbe their 19th in title.
“Liverpool are something special," said Sissoko. "The fans, the club… I played with really terrific players there. Like Juventus, Liverpool also helped me to grow as a player and as a person.
“It’s a shame that they’ve been knocked out of the Champions League, but it has to be said that the main aim was to win the Premier League. The fans have been waiting to win the title for a long time.”
