Liverpool Target Rafael Leão To Fill The Mohamed Salah Void

Anfield is bracing for a massive change. Fans are finally facing the reality of life without Mohamed Salah, who has officially confirmed he’s leaving at the end of the season. According to reports from Fichajes, Liverpool’s recruitment team has locked in AC Milan’s Rafael Leão as the man to take over Salah’s role. This comes after Salah’s emotional message in late March, where he explained he’d reached a deal to leave Merseyside a year early, despite his previous contract extension.

The Portuguese winger is still a huge name at the San Siro, but AC Milan seem ready to talk business. His relationship with manager Massimiliano Allegri has reportedly gone cold, and the club is listening to offers. While his official release clause is a massive €175 million, insiders think Milan might settle for something closer to €100 million, or even a market opportunity discount, as the summer window gets closer.

Liverpool scouts have been watching the 26-year-old for months, betting that his size and skill set can handle the physical grind of the Premier League. Leão himself is open to a move to England, especially now that he isn’t considered untouchable by the Milan board anymore.

How has he fared?

So far in the 2025/26 Serie A season, Leão has shown what he’s capable of, putting up 9 goals and 3 assists in 1,640 minutes of play. He’s currently holding a 7.14 FotMob rating and just set up the winning goal in a 1-0 victory over Hellas Verona on 19 April 2026. He does have four yellow cards and can be a bit hot and cold, but his raw numbers are still top-tier; he’s created 8 big chances and remains one of the best dribblers in Europe. Liverpool see the Portuguese winger’s speed and directness as the right fit to replace the threat Salah usually provides on the right wing. Talks are still in the early stages, but the idea of Leão leading a new-look Liverpool attack is already the biggest talking point in football.

Can Rafael Leão successfully replicate the statistical output of Mohamed Salah at Anfield?

Replacing someone like Mohamed Salah isn’t just about speed; it takes a level of clinical finishing and mental toughness that very few players have. Liverpool have to realise that while Leão has incredible flair and physical attributes, his current tally of 9 league goals suggests he’s still more of a high-ceiling project than a finished product. Salah hit 20-plus goals every year like clockwork, which is something Leão hasn’t done yet in Italy.

That said, Leão often looks restricted in Allegri’s tactical system, where he can sometimes drift out of games when stuck too wide. A move to Liverpool would put him in a fast-paced, transition-heavy team that plays to his strengths in 1-on-1 situations. If the club can talk Milan down from €100 million to the rumoured €80 million wildcard price, the move makes a lot of sense financially.

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It won’t be an easy transition, but Leão has Ballon d’Or potential if the coaches can get him into central scoring positions. Liverpool fans should expect a player who brings chaos and drive to the pitch, someone who could become a primary scorer once he gets used to the speed of the English game.