Gerrard Eyes Olise as Salah Successor, But Doubts Bayern Will Budge

Steven Gerrard has identified Michael Olise as a potential solution to Liverpool's Mohamed Salah problem, though the Reds legend remains sceptical the deal will materialise.

With Salah departing Anfield at season's end after nine remarkable years—during which he notched 255 goals in 436 appearances and won two Premier League titles, a Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup—Liverpool face the unenviable task of finding his successor.

Currently sitting fifth in the Premier League, the Reds must recruit shrewdly. Olise, the France international plying his trade at Bayern Munich, has featured prominently in supporters' conversations about potential replacements. Yet Gerrard fears the winger will prove unavailable.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Gerrard acknowledged the scale of the challenge: "I think the concern, if you're trying to replace Salah, in terms of like, for like, I think there's very few out there that you can go and grab. Olise would be one, I would say, but I don't think he'd be available."

The former Liverpool skipper pointed to the club's track record of adapting rather than simply mirroring departures. When Sadio Mane left, they recruited Luis Diaz, offering a different profile. Similarly, they've managed transitions following other high-profile exits.

"Liverpool have got a fantastic record of replacing top players that have gone before," Gerrard continued. "They have to try and replace some kind of his goal involvement in terms of goals and assists, which is extremely difficult because he's been incredible for Liverpool for many years."

Gerrard also weighed in on Trent Alexander-Arnold's absence from England's latest squad, admitting genuine shock at the Real Madrid defender's snub by boss Thomas Tuchel.

"For him to not be in the 35 best England players for me is a huge shock," Gerrard said. "In terms of that creation that you need, against Uruguay, against Japan, you need someone who's going to be able to open the door, or someone off the bench who can come on and improve things if things are not going how you want them to go."

The 46-year-old believes Tuchel should have reassured Alexander-Arnold after the pair of disappointing performances: "If I was in Thomas Tuchel's shoes, the first thing I would have been doing after the Japan game is getting on the phone back to Trent and saying, 'Listen, it's not over for you son, on the back of them two performances.'"

Gerrard drew parallels to players sidelined through suspension or injury, noting that such periods can distort perceptions of ability. He remains convinced England's depth—when Harry Kane, Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham are fit—positions them well for the summer's tournament.

"When he gets his best players back in the squad and back on the pitch, there's no doubt about it, these group of players have proved they can go the distance," Gerrard reflected. "Semi-finals and finals—I have no doubt they can go and have another huge massive effort in the summer."

However, he branded the recent international break "a washout," taking issue with certain managerial selections he felt undervalued players capable of making a tangible difference.