Chelsea have been told what they must do to win the race for a player hailed as Mohamed Salah’s potential successor at Liverpool.
The winger could exit Anfield on a free in the summer unless contract negotiations progress, stirring talk of his incoming replacement. Club in Saudi Arabia are among the suitors eying Salah, while Johan Bakayoko has emerged as a potential replacement after impressing against Liverpool in the Champions League with PSV Eindhoven. His performances have not gone unnoticed, with Tottenham and Newcastle also showing interest.
Chelsea, however, are also considered a viable option for the 21-year-old, provided they finish in the top four. When recently probed by ESPN about his ambitions, Bakayoko voiced his criteria “I’m not going for a mid-table Premier League team,” he stated.
“I will summarise it very briefly: I want to be able to become a champion, play the Champions League and play myself in the team.”
This puts pressure on Chelsea to cement a Champions League spot or hope Bakayoko softens his position before the season’s end. However, even that might not suffice, as Bakayoko has expressed a willingness to join Liverpool if given the chance, reports the Express.
“I definitely think that I can join Liverpool,” he said after scoring against the Reds last month. “We can be happy that we won against big names, but they didn’t come with the strongest team either. It’s a shame that they didn’t come with the strongest team.
“I’m in a good place. I feel the confidence of the entire club. As long as that is there, I feel good, whether I play well or badly. I would not make such a move to Saudi Arabia now, no. I would not do it, but you have to look at every situation.”
Bakayoko has scored nine goals in 28 appearances across all competitions this season and has provided three assists. It remains to be seen if he will move to the Premier League in the summer but Liverpool and Chelsea are possible destinations.
