Arsenal legend Paul Merson believes Liverpool ought to make a £150m transfer for Bukayo Saka in January in the event that they money in on Mohamed Salah this summer time. Al-Ittihad are stated to be getting ready a £200m bid for the Egyptian celebrity as they appear to check the Reds' resolve.

Liverpool insist their star winger will not be on the market and pushed again a £150m bid from the reigning Saudi Pro League champions on Friday. Despite England's switch window slamming shut final evening, Saudi Arabian golf equipment nonetheless have 5 days to do enterprise, and so Al-Ittihad are anticipated to return in with an improved provide.

With no like-for-like replacements of their ranks, it appears unlikely Liverpool will entertain Al-Ittihad's proposals but when they do then Merson thinks they need to use the cash from the switch to select up PFA Younger Player of the Year Saka in January.

Speaking on Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday, he stated: "Do they sell him [Salah] for £200m and then in January see if they can get Saka from Arsenal for 150?

"I'm pondering proper one individual's 31 if I can get £200m, who's the following one in line? The subsequent huge factor on the proper wing... It's Saka. He's the perfect proper winger about after Salah.

"If you were Liverpool, you are trading in someone who is a little bit older for someone who is younger, I mean they could go and rock the boat with Arsenal and say 'here's 150 for someone'."

The concept that Liverpool may signal Arsenal's greatest participant smack-bang in the midst of the Premier League season appears very idealistic. It would undoubtedly be a very good little bit of enterprise if they might pull it off however the chance of Arsenal promoting Saka to one in every of their closest rivals is subsequent to nothing.

Especially given the truth that Saka not too long ago put pen to paper on a contemporary four-year deal on the membership. Arsenal have by no means been a promoting membership and commonly run down their star gamers' offers earlier than letting them go elsewhere, for higher or worse.

Kylian Mbappe was additionally talked about as a attainable alternative in the course of the debate however his astronomical wages could also be an issue for Liverpool, who are inclined to attempt to hold their wage invoice down. The Frenchman at the moment earns £1.1m per week whereas Salah, Liverpool's highest-paid participant, is on a fraction of that, raking in round £350,000 each seven days.