Liverpool’s Salah replacement? Manager admits winger ‘one of the strongest I’ve seen’

Robin Bairner

• 8 Apr 2026 03:30 CDT
• 3 min read

News

Liverpool have been told that transfer target Francisco Conceicao is like a young Mohamed Salah by Juventus head coach Luciano Spalletti.

The Reds are on the hunt for a replacement for the Egypt international star, who has already announced that he will leave Anfield at the end of the season.

FootballTransfers has confirmed that Liverpool are one of a number of clubs that have taken an interest in Juventus’ Conceicao.

Conceicao and Salah ‘comparisons are appropriate’ – Spalletti

Spalletti has fuelled speculation over a move for the 23-year-old by agreeing that the Portugal international is similar to Salah, a player he had under his wing during his time as Roma boss.

“The comparison with the early Salah is appropriate,” the Juventus boss declared to Sky Sport Italia (via TMW) after a 2-0 win over Genoa.

“Conceicao is still a young player; he has things to learn. He needs to convince himself that he can also play more centrally. Out wide, he becomes unmarkable because he is truly very strong; in seven or eight situations, he creates just as many potential chances.”

Spalletti says that there are aspects of Conceicao’s game that need to become more rounded, yet that was the same with Salah, who was 23 when his career exploded when he made a loan move from Chelsea to Roma.

“He must work on certain aspects of his game - he needs the ability to have vision and recognise when there is someone he can pass the ball to. In that sense, he does things one step at a time,” the coach added.

“As a winger, he is one of the strongest I have ever seen. He has this intensity and aggressiveness in one-on-one situations that is hard to contain. Today as well, he delivered a large number of balls for the team.”

On course to be even better

Spalletti’s words are backed by data analytics firm SciSports, which places Conceicao ahead of Salah at this point in their respective careers.

Like the Egyptian, there are signs that the Portuguese’s development is really starting to accelerate at this juncture. Indeed, according to SciSports’ model, Conceicao has been the best performing attacking midfielder in Serie A this season, ranking best in crossing, finishing and second in terms of his dribbling.

It is unclear what sort of valuation Juventus have put on Conceicao’s head, but after signing him from Porto in a €32 million deal last summer, the Turin giants will likely expect significantly more than this figure, particularly after Spalletti’s lavish praise of the player.