Liverpool have identified Dortmund’s Donil Malen as a potential replacement for Mohamed Salah.

“Jürgen Klopp has targeted Malen as a potential successor to Salah,” Germany’s Sport Bild reported on Monday (Aug. 29).

Malen, who began his career with Ajax and Arsenal’s youth system before moving to Dutch side PSV Eindhoven, broke into the first team in the 2018-19 season. In 2018-19, he became a fully-fledged starter with 10 goals and four assists in 31 league appearances, and in 2019-20, despite missing the second half of the season due to injury, he had a breakout season with 11 goals and two assists in 14 league games.

Then, in 2020-21, Malen’s potential fully exploded. In 32 league games, Malen had a career-high season with 19 goals and eight assists. Malen’s performance led Dortmund to target him as a replacement for Jadon Sancho, and he signed a five-year deal to make the jump to the big leagues.

Perhaps due to his sudden move to the big leagues, Malen struggled at the start of the season and didn’t adapt easily to the German game, but he gradually settled into the team and finished the season with some promising performances, especially considering it was his first season in the Bundesliga.

In his second year in Germany, Malen looks to have fully settled in. After struggling a bit in the first half of the 2022-23 season and being linked with a return to Eindhoven, Malen played a key role in Dortmund’s title challenge in the second half, scoring eight goals in eight appearances between March and May.

This season, he has been equally impressive. Capable of playing up front or on the flanks, Malen has scored three goals in five league games and is a key part of the team’s attack.바카라

Liverpool are reportedly keeping a close eye on Malen. The Reds are looking for a backup and long-term replacement for Salah, who has consistently attracted interest from Saudi Arabia in the transfer market this summer.

“Klopp is keeping an eye on Malen,” the outlet said. Even before his move to Dortmund, he was already at the top of Klopp’s list,” the publication reported. “Malen knows England well. He played for Arsenal London’s U-18 and U-23 teams between 2015 and 2017. He would be the ideal backup to the ‘superstar’ Salah.”