A summer of transition has become complex for Liverpool, with Andoni Iraola now at the helm of the club. The Basque head coach will be eager to implement his ideas and playing style with his new squad.
While the club are beginning a new era, after the dismissal of Arne Slot, they will also be heading into the unknown of a post-Mohamed Salah world. For nine years, the Egyptian was the Reds’ star man, but he announced he would depart the club at the tail end of last season, leaving Iraola to embark on his new adventure without the talismanic goalscorer.
Many fans would love to see Salah reverse his decision, now that Slot, the man he was said to have a complicated relationship with, has gone. However, today’s news sees Salah reportedly make a call on an Anfield return, while elsewhere, another former star is believed to be eyeing a comeback to the Reds.
According to former Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren, Salah will not reverse his decision to leave the club. There had been hope in some quarters that, with Slot’s departure, the winger could renege on his decision.
However, speaking to WinWin, the Croatian dashed those slim chances. He said: “No, it’s over. Mo has a big personality too. I don’t know, if they hadn’t announced all of that, all the details of leaving, saying thank you and goodbye and saying goodbye, maybe yes, but now it’s difficult.”
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Yet in a cruel blow to fans, Lovren believes that Salah could have stayed at Anfield had he known that Slot would be leaving sooner.
He added: “Yes, he would have stayed 100 per cent. Believe me, he would have stayed 100 per cent, I know that. But the timing was bad.
View 3 ImagesMohamed Salah and Arne Slot’s relationship was a topic of discussion earlier this season(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
“Only a fool would say we no longer need him. Only a fool would say that. I mean, to say you don’t need Mohamed Salah at Liverpool, when he can still perform at the highest level for another two or three years, then we have a problem understanding football.”
Salah and Slot’s relationship was said to be rocky, with the forward engaging in two public outbursts in the second half of the season. While it doesn’t look like he will be heading back to Anfield, he has yet to confirm where he will be playing following his exit.
Ex-Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez is said to be keen on a return to the club. The forward joined Al-Hilal for £46.3million in the summer of 2025, but he has endured a tough time in Saudi Arabia.
The Uruguayan was axed from the squad in February due to the arrival of Karim Benzema. Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo is reporting that Nunez would like to make a Merseyside comeback.
View 3 ImagesDarwin Nunez could make a sensational return to the Premier League(Image: Molly Darlington, Getty Images)
However, the report also states that the arrival of Xabi Alonso at Chelsea has prompted the Blues to show their interest. Barcelona and Newcastle United are also mentioned as possible destinations.
The Uruguay international joined Liverpool in the 2022 summer transfer window from Benfica for an initial fee of £64m. He scored 40 goals in 143 appearances for the Reds, but only started eight Premier League games during their title-winning campaign.
Upon leaving Liverpool he said: “Liverpool will always be part of who I am. I’ll miss you more than words can say. To all the staff and my teammates – thank you and all the very best for the future.”
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