REAL MADRID are set to launch a sensational £126million bid for Mohamed Salah if they fail to sign Kylian Mbappe this summer, according to reports in Spain.
Los Blancos are itching to bolster their attacking ranks this summer after failing to successfully replace Cristiano Ronaldo following his 2018 move to Juventus.
Real Madrid may turn their attention to Salah to replace Bale
Real Madrid have previously eyed up Mbappe as the long-term successor to Ronaldo following the latter’s 2018 exit
Zinedine Zidane has been hampered by injuries to the likes of Eden Hazard and Gareth Bale this term.
And the Welsh winger is widely expected to finally be sold this summer after months of warring with the Bernabeu boss.
Paris Saint-Germain striker Mbappe has long been Real Madrid’s top target.
But with the France star potentially costing somewhere between £200m and £250m, Madrid are now turning their attention to Liverpool ace Salah, say El Desmarque.
The Egyptian winger, 27, is under contract at Anfield until at least June 2023, so it would take a monster bid for Liverpool to sell.
And with Bayern Munich chasing Roberto Firmino, Jurgen Klopp may decide no bid would be enough to see another part of his fearsome front-three poached.
But, Manchester United legend Gary Neville reckons a move to Real Madrid is the logical next step in Salah’s career.
Neville claimed: “I said 18 months ago I thought Mo Salah would leave Liverpool.
“I think there’s a feeling that he wants to go and play at Real Madrid, he’ll go to Barcelona – he’ll take the big move.
“That’s not a criticism of Salah. I played with David Beckham, I played with Ruud van Nistelrooy, I played with Cristiano Ronaldo…
“They wanted to aspire to win the Ballon d’Or, they wanted to be at Real Madrid, they wanted to be up in lights and play at the biggest clubs in the world.
“I think he is ultimately using Liverpool potentially as a stepping stone for his career. He has aspirations to be [at a club like Madrid or Barca].
“Let’s be honest, Real Madrid and Barcelona for a lot of players are the pinnacle.”
Liverpool have previously lost Michael Owen and Steve McManaman to Real Madrid when they were at the peak of their powers.
Real were also linked with Sadio Mane last summer, but a move failed to materialise.
But should the Reds win the Premier League this season for the first time in their history, to go with last term’s Champions League win, some big names may opt for a move on having completed everything they can at Anfield.
Meanwhile, Reds boss Klopp is eyeing up a move for Timo Werner – whose release clause is just £25m, according to recent reports – to add some depth to his front-line.
Mo Salah’s amazing body transformation from skinny Chelsea flop to ripped Liverpool superstar
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
