Liverpool will choose to cash in on either Mohamed Salah or Sadio Mane following the arrival of Luis Diaz, in the opinion of Paul Merson.
The Sky Sports pundit believes one of the star duo is destined for an Anfield exit now that Jurgen Klopp has added to his attacking options.
Reds boss Klopp dipped into the transfer market in the summer of 2020 to bring in Diogo Jota from Wolves - and the Portuguese has proven himself to be an important member of the team since.
Last month Diaz was added to the squad, meaning Liverpool are now blessed with numerous quality forward options.
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But question marks remain over the futures of Salah, Mane and Roberto Firmino given their contracts all expire in the summer of 2023.
And in the wake of Diaz's signing, Merson claims the Reds are preparing to lose one of the famed 'front three'.
He added, however, that the club should 'splash the cash' to keep Salah and Mane.
"I don't think they would have seen this coming, they got Jota before that. I think Diaz has come in as the insurance policy," the Arsenal legend said live on Sky Sports.
"Looking at Diaz I think they got him quite cheaply if I'm being honest – if [Porto] knew that either Mane or Salah is going to leave they'd have put another £20m on his fee.
"One of them will be leaving. I don't think Liverpool will be giving £300-400k per week to both of them.
*PICK THE LIVERPOOL TEAM TO FACE BURNLEY:
"Do I think they should stay? Yeah, 100%. It took them 30 years to get where they are."
Asked by presenter Jeff Stelling who of Mane or Salah he would allow to leave if given the choice, Merson replied: "I couldn't let Salah go. I'm sorry.
"I just think the lad is on a different planet to a lot of players at the moment. Some of the goals he scores... he's going past four Man City players and they're the best team in the world.
"No disrespect, but he's not going past four Norwich players – he's going past the best of the best.
"For me, you have to keep Salah if you have to keep one of them. Personally I'd keep both of them. It took Liverpool 30 years to get where they are – splash the money and they'll be there for another five or six years."
