Former Premier League ace Gabriel Agbonlahor believes Liverpool already has the next Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo in their ranks. They have been the dominant pair in the debate about who the best player is in the world for a long time, but they are slowly losing their dominance.
Despite Ronaldo’s stellar start to life at Manchester United and Messi’s almost certain goal guarantee at PSG goals, neither man is getting older. Ronaldo will turn 37 in six months. His great Argentine rival, however, is 34. As their abilities diminish, the conversation will naturally turn to who their natural successors are.
Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe are considered football’s next bright young things. Agbonlahor, a former Aston Villa player believes Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah (29), is the most likely to take over from Messi and Ronaldo.
First reflecting on Salah’s contract situation at Anfield, Agbonlahor told Football Insider: “They don’t need to give him a five-year deal, nobody gives a 30-year-old a five-year deal.
“For Mo Salah, a four-year deal is perfect.” He then went on to make the case for Salah as the successor to Messi and Ronaldo.
“To be fair, even if you gave him a five-year deal, Mo Salah looks like he could be playing until he’s 34, 35, 36,” Agbonlahor continued. “The next Messi and Ronaldo. Even if he did slow down a bit, he’s still going to be a top player.
“Without Mo Salah, Liverpool wouldn’t even get into the top four. So whatever he is asking for in wages, give it to him. It’s going to cost you a lot more than that to replace him.
“They need to get this sorted. He is a high-quality, quality player who scores every game. His celebration [against Crystal Palace] shows how much he loves Liverpool. He’s come out and said he loves Liverpool so they’d be stupid to lose him.”