Liverpool does not anticipate needing to replace Mohamed Salah as a matter of urgency this summer. He is contracted until 2025, and the club expects that he will at the very least see that out — with talks over a possible renewal also in the works.

But one thing new FSG head of football Michael Edwards cannot do is stop time. Whether or not he gets Salah to renew, the Egyptian will still be turning 32 next month, and Liverpool will at least start having to sketch out a succession plan.

Seeing a 22-year-old Bukayo Saka thrive for Arsenal in much the same role, Liverpool may well wonder what might have been. But with the England star long since unattainable, the Reds could have kept an eye on someone else in a recent game at the Emirates.

Saka opened the scoring in the Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich, giving Arsenal the perfect start. But the Germans hit back — somewhat inevitably through former player Serge Gnabry and Tottenham legend Harry Kane. Leandro Trossard found an equalizer, but the Bavarians had done enough to finish the tie off at the Allianz Arena.

While Leroy Sané did not score in either leg, he was a live-wire. One man he impressed was former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant, the only Englishman to appear in a Champions League final and never receive an international cap.

“I don’t think Olise is an ideal replacement for Mo Salah. You need someone with more experience, like Leroy Sané,” said Pennant when speaking to FastestPayoutCasino.com.

“For me that would be a great signing, he has pace, he cuts in on his right or left. When he played at the Emirates, he was absolutely unreal, he tore Arsenal apart.

“So, if he can do that to Arsenal at the Emirates, he’d be an amazing signing. He knows the Premier League with City, so I’d rather Leroy than Olise, even though he’s a great player.”

Olise has been linked with a transfer away after an impressive campaign with Crystal Palace. Meanwhile, Sané's contract at Bayern Munich only runs to 2025.

Liverpool.com says: Given the contract situation, you'd imagine Sané might be attainable for someone this summer. And Pennant is right to point out some stylistic similarities to a younger Salah.

Not that much younger, though. At 28, the time when Sané made any sense as a Salah heir was when the Egyptian's contract was last up for discussion two years ago. Especially since the return of Edwards, this would not have the look of a Liverpool transfer at all.

For the long-term, someone like Olise would be far better. Only 22, he's probably not quite such a natural profile fit, although he brings all of the creativity that tends to be underrated in Salah's game.