This summer, Liverpool may sign the replacement for Mohamed Salah.
Marcus Edwards of Sporting Lisbon is reportedly up for grabs at £30 million, and Liverpool has been told they can sign him in the summer. The Reds can take advantage of two errors made by Edwards’ former team, Tottenham, in order to acquire the winger.
The likely departure of Mohamed Salah from Anfield may force Liverpool’s next manager to look elsewhere for a left-footed striker. The man regarded as the front-runner to succeed Jurgen Klopp, Ruben Amorim, has recently managed Edwards’ growth at Sporting.
Former head coach Mauricio Pochettino even likened Edwards to Lionel Messi, making him one of Spurs’ best possibilities.
Nevertheless, following a lackluster loan stint at Norwich, the former England U20 international lost his way.
After a brief stint at Dutch team Excelsior, the 25-year-old was traded to Portuguese team Vitoria de Guimaraes and never appeared in a meaningful match for the north Londoners. Edwards’ entry was completed by Vitoria for just over £1 million, a pitiful sum for a guy whose value as a young player was so great.
Spurs was entitled to half of any transfer money for which Edwards moved during his career because they held a 50% part in his economic rights. After that, in 2022, they got about £3 million when Edwards moved from Vitoria to Sporting.
However, that percentage was reduced to 35% as part of the agreement for Pedro Porro to join the Premier League team from Sporting in January 2023. Although it is generally accepted that Edwards has a release clause worth approximately £50 million, Football.London reports that Sporting may accept as little as £30 million because the leaders of Primeira Liga will owe Spurs less of any proceeds.
The 25-year-old Edwards would be a great addition to Liverpool or any other Premier League team. After a 2022–2023 season in which he produced 26 direct goal contributions, he has scored six goals and contributed eight assists this season across all competitions.
After a valiant effort to keep Salah out of the Saudi Pro League’s clutches a year ago, Liverpool may lose him in the summer. With just 12 months left on his contract at the end of the campaign, the Egyptian will have far more control over his future.
Liverpool rejected world-record offers from Al-Ittihad for Salah. However, the Reds may not have as much negotiating power this summer.
For £30 million, Edwards may potentially be a great acquisition, particularly if Amorim takes over for Klopp at Anfield.