Salah Set to Exit Liverpool Unless Slot Stays, as Alonso Replacement Plan Emerges

The writing appears to be on the wall for Mohamed Salah at Liverpool, with the Egyptian's future increasingly dependent on managerial upheaval at Anfield. Former Reds midfielder Danny Murphy has predicted the winger will depart this summer, suggesting that only a fresh manager committed to building around him might convince him to stay.

Tensions between Salah and Arne Slot have simmered since December when the forward was dropped to the bench and subsequently claimed he'd been "thrown under the bus" and had "no relationship" with the manager. Though Salah has returned to action following his AFCON duties, the relationship remains fractured and his performances have dipped markedly from last season's exceptional standards—a campaign that helped deliver Liverpool's second Premier League title.

Murphy acknowledged that while a new boss might provide Salah with renewed purpose, the current situation feels untenable. "The only caveat would be if a new manager came in and really wanted to build a team around him," he noted, adding that at Salah's stage of his career, adapting to a reduced role proves challenging for even the greatest talents.

Xabi Alonso looms large as Slot's potential successor, with Spanish outlet Fichajes claiming his appointment is "practically a done deal" for the summer. The former Real Madrid manager—sacked earlier this month—has apparently already begun mapping out a comprehensive squad rebuild. Salah tops the list of departures, with reports suggesting the club could attempt to offload him to Saudi Arabia for £100 million.

Alonso's blueprint extends beyond Salah. Defender Ibrahima Konate, whose form has deteriorated this season, is earmarked as the first casualty, while midfielder Alexis Mac Allister also finds himself outside the Spaniard's vision. Liverpool have reportedly received interest from Real Madrid for Mac Allister, with a potential €120 million (£105 million) deal mooted.

Yet for all the speculation swirling around Anfield, The Athletic's James Pearce has injected a note of reality into proceedings. The long-serving Liverpool correspondent insists that Slot retains the backing of the club's hierarchy, who have explicitly rejected the mid-season managerial chop that befell Ruben Amorim at Manchester United and Enzo Maresca at Chelsea. While Slot's performance will undoubtedly face scrutiny come summer, the Anfield powers-that-be harbour no current plans to dispense with the Dutchman.