Fortunately, they have already been looking at the perfect candidate with Antoine Semenyo thought to have emerged as a January target.

The winger has established himself as one of the Premier League’s finest forwards during his time at Bournemouth and is thought to have no shortage of admirers, with Liverpool among the interested parties.

He is thought to have a release clause of around £60million, which becomes active in January. Liverpool, therefore, could bypass negotiations with the Cherries by activating it and go straight into talks with Semenyo and his representatives.

The Reds would struggle to land a better winger in the middle of the season, which suggests a move for Semenyo could become a genuine possibility if Salah leaves.

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola recently insisted that Semenyo had not been unsettled by the rumours surrounding his future, saying: “Antoine is giving us a lot. I think he’s being close to the goals or to the assist and he’s not also a number nine.

“He’s not someone who we are expecting him to score every game. He’s a winger that normally is a very good threat for us and I think he can continue giving us a lot of numbers but it’s not his main job.

“He has to do a lot of jobs for the team. I think he’s still being a threat. He’s trying to help us in every game and I haven’t seen any change in his attitude.”

Meanwhile, former England striker Darren Bent believes Liverpool would be getting their very own version of Gareth Bale by bringing Semenyo to Anfield.

He told talkSPORT: “He’s one of those rare players and I call players like this unstoppable. Gareth Bale was like that. When I talk about unstoppable, I’m talking about their attributes.

“When Bale started to move, you just couldn’t stop him, and Semenyo is the same. Once he gets going, he’s going past people and he’s gliding. What’s good about him is that he can go both ways. I think he’s got the full package.

“For so long now, Liverpool have been able to depend on Salah on that right-hand side, season upon season, and don’t get me wrong, he’s been one of the best players we’ve ever seen in this country.

“But the signs are that he potentially maybe is slowing down a fraction. Now, all of a sudden, you have to start addressing both sides.”