Liverpool news: Arne Slot confirms forgotten star's return as 'Mo Salah replacement' named

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With six games of Liverpool's season, Arne Slot has already begun preparing for what would be his third campaign in charge. The Reds are set to conclude 25/26 without silverware, with Champions League qualification yet to be confirmed.

The exits of Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah, as well as the long-term Achilles injury suffered by Hugo Ekitike during their 2-0 defeat by Paris Saint-Germain, certainly haven't placed the reigning Premier League champions in good standing ahead of the summer.

Describing the club as in "transition", Slot has his work cut out for him if he is to stand any chance of returning Liverpool to their former glory. Mirror Football delves into the future of a forgotten Reds star and a potential replacement for the Egyptian king.

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Robertson's impending absence leaves a gap at left-back - a position Slot confirmed has already been filled by an existing Liverpool player.

Kostas Tsimikas will return to Anfield next season after his loan spell at Roma ends in May. The Greece international left Liverpool last August to join the Serie A side, but his career on Merseyside is set to be reignited.

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Speaking ahead of Sunday's Merseyside derby against Everton , Slot said: "Last year we made quite a lot of signings, and that's why we traded that much. In four windows had net spend of £150m. That says what kind of club we are. We know we are changing at least two players, but Kostas is coming back."

While a replacement for Robertson has already been confirmed, finding a successor to Salah won't be as straightforward . The Egyptian superstar announced he's leaving Anfield at the end of the season during the March international break.

Replacing the absurd number of goals and assists that the 33-year-old has produced over almost a decade borders on the impossible, but one player has been earmarked as a suitable replacement, according to Reds legend John Aldridge.

The 67-year-old - who scored 64 goals in 104 games for the club - believes West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen possesses the ability to succeed Salah, citing his Premier League experience and consistent production. Speaking to Boyle Sports, Aldridge said: "I've looked at Jarrod Bowen for some years now, and I really like the way he plays football, and what he offers West Ham.

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"I joined Liverpool when I was 28 or 29. There are a good couple of years left in him. I've been saying this to a lot of ex-players for a couple of years now. He would fit the bill whenever Mo was ready to go, and even now, you still get a couple of good years at least out of him.

"If West Ham stay up, then it would be hard to get him, and he's probably not what the owners look at, age-wise. But again, I'm a bit of a dinosaur, so why not? For what's out there, if, hypothetically, we were to get him, he could get you 15 goals a season and a lot of assists. But it might not fit the makeup of the club, sadly.

"Jarrod Bowen is a more solid option than [RB Leipzig star] Yan Diomande because he's used to the Premier League, he's used to British life. He's a lot older. A young lad coming in, it's tough, especially at that age.