Arsenal set to hijack Liverpool's perfect Mohamed Salah succession plan

Arsenal is said to be interested in signing Bryan Mbeumo, which could throw a spanner in the works regarding Liverpool's reported interest in the Brentford forward.

The Reds have been linked with a swoop for Mbeumo as a possible replacement for Mohamed Salah, who could leave the club on a free transfer at the end of the season. Salah is into the final nine months of his current Anfield deal and a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia seems to be on the cards.

Mbeumo, 25, is into his fourth season in the Premier League with Bournemouth and sixth season in total. During his time with the Bees he has established himself as one of the best wide forwards in England, and he has started this season in superb form, netting six goals in eight Premier League appearances.

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Football Insider reports that Arsenal is keen to strengthen improve its depth on the right wing, given Bukayo Saka is the only senior player that Mikel Arteta has at his disposal in that position. Mbeumo's versatility is said to appeal to Arteta, given he can play on either wing and also as a striker or a second striker.

The report adds that a £40 million ($52 million) offer from Liverpool would have been enough to convince Brentford to sell Mbeumo during the summer transfer window just gone. However, it now sounds as though the Reds will have competition should they choose to pursue Mbeumo as a possible replacement for Salah, and it is even claimed that Arsenal could make its move in January.

Meanwhile, it remains unclear whether Salah will extend his contract at Anfield beyond the end of this season. While Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold have both spoken about their situations in recent weeks, Salah has largely kept schtum.

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher, though, believes Salah will end up penning a renewal. “He’ll have an eye on Thierry Henry (175 total goals in the Premier League) and Frank Lampard (177) by the end of this season, I would imagine, and I think stats like this are one of the biggest reasons why Mo Salah will sign a new contract at Liverpool,” Carragher said of Salah, who scored his 162nd Premier League goal against Chelsea on Sunday.

“Of course, they’ll be talking about money and length of contract, but I think these are the things that really get the juices flowing for Mo Salah. He breaks all the records at Liverpool, and getting as far as he can up those lists, I think that’s a big part of his focus as a player.”