Ex-Liverpool striker Stan Collymore has urged his former club to sign Raphinha from Leeds United in an attempt to put pressure on Mohamed Salah.
Following two impressive seasons at Elland Road, since his switch from Rennes in 2020, Raphinha has been linked with a whole host of Premier League clubs, with Arsenal the latest one to be labelled as a possible destination.
Liverpool's interest in the winger, who is reportedly rated in the £60m bracket by Leeds, seemed to ease after the signing of Luis Diaz from Porto in January and the recent addition of Benfica talisman Darwin Nunez earlier this month.
READ MORE: Liverpool might have just forced Man City to replace 'exceptional' player Pep Guardiola loves
READ MORE: Jurgen Klopp named as 'main' reason for why Sadio Mane left Liverpool
However, despite Jurgen Klopp bolstering his attacking ranks in recent months, Collymore believes Reds boss Klopp should make a move for the Brazil international if they want to get even more out of Salah, who is just off the back of another incredible season.
He said : "If Jurgen Klopp can show the boy how to play with more tactical discipline, the Reds will have one hell of a potential threat down the left or right with a promise of goals if he stays high up the pitch rather than drifting. If you’re looking at Klopp and what he has done with Salah and Sadio Mane then he could do the same with Raphinha
“What was Mane’s tactical awareness like when he arrived at Liverpool? And you could ask the same question about Salah. Yes, he scored goals with Roma and he has that outrageous pace, but he still needed polishing to become an even better goalscorer in the Premier League. With Salah in the last year of his contract — and there’s nothing for now saying he is going to stay and nothing saying he is going to go — you wonder if Klopp’s uncanny knack of working with gifted sidemen might appeal to Raphinha.
“And if Liverpool, on the back of good business with Darwin Nunez and Fabio Carvalho, were to get Raphinha and tell him to watch Salah for the next year, not only will he learn but it would also put Mo under a nice bit of pressure to make him think, ‘Am I going to stay or am I going to go?’ Nobody is comparing Raphinha to Salah because you can’t compare anyone to Salah.
“But he has rapid pace, amazing skills and ability, and he can be polished to score more goals and get more assists. If Klopp can do that then, all of a sudden, by this time next year, Liverpool could have an all-new front three and it will be as if people have blinked and not even noticed, which would be amazing.”
Since moving to the Reds five years ago, Salah has swept England of every trophy on offer while also adding the Champions League, UEFA Super Club and FIFA Club World Cup, plus three Premier League Golden Boots.
However, the future of Liverpool's star man has been under question for quite some time as he has just one year left on his current contract at Anfield, with talks about extending his stay reportedly reaching an impasse over recent months.
Speaking in May, prior to the Champions League final against Real Madrid, the Egyptian confirmed he would be staying at Anfield next season at least, but whether he extends his stay into the seventh year remains to be seen.
READ NEXT:
- Record Liverpool signing could make Champions League debut at 33 after 'closing in' on shock transfer
-
'There’s talk' - Steve McManaman makes Liverpool transfer prediction and bold Darwin Nunez point
-
Sadio Mane sent Bayern Munich message after Liverpool transfer as Leroy Sane gesture emerges
-
Paul Merson makes 'controversial' Fabinho Liverpool transfer claim and slams Sadio Mane stance
-
Bayern Munich chief sends Serge Gnabry transfer message after Liverpool 'talks'
