Arne Slot says Liverpool are likely to sign winger as Mohamed Salah replacement plan accelerates

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Arne Slot is targeting "at least one" winger this summer as Liverpool step up their efforts to replace Mohamed SalahArne Slot has confirmed Liverpool are working on signing "at least one" winger this coming summer as the club begin to contemplate life without Mohamed Salah.Salah played his 442nd and final Reds game on Sunday and signed off with an assist for Curtis Jones as Slot's men secured qualification to the Champions League with a 1-1 draw with Brentford.The 33-year-old Salah, who walks away as the third highest goalscorer of all time at Anfield with 257 goals, was the top marksman in eight of his nine seasons at the club and is widely viewed as one of the most transformational signings in Liverpool history, having joined for around £36m from Roma in 2017.The absence of the Egyptian leaves Liverpool with a considerable creative void to fill but Slot has spoken previously about the need to evolve his team to get £125m striker Alexander Isak more service going forward.That has led to thoughts about a different profile of frontman after Salah's exit and RB Leipzig's teenager Yan Diomande is under consideration, while the Reds have also been credited with an interest in Paris Saint-Germain star Bradley Barcola.READ MORE: National media reflect on season Liverpool were 'tested to its core' as Mohamed Salah points madeREAD MORE: Andy Robertson addresses Liverpool fans after emotional Anfield exit - 'Heartbeat of the club'Slot admitted the club are assessing the lay of the land where their wide forwards are concerned, detailing their importance to his overall game plan at Anfield."One of the reasons why everyone is talking about wingers is because Mo is leaving," Slot said."It makes complete sense to think about at least one. I think last season gives you the answer.

How important were our wingers last season for our success."They were scoring goals, providing goals, so they were a vital part of us winning the league last season and, in general in football, you see more and more focus on wingers."Diomande, who turns 20 in November, has enjoyed a sharp rise since he joined Leipzig from Spanish side Leganes last year and the rapid wideman has become known as one of the most exciting talents in the Bundesliga after a campaign where he scored 13 goals and provided 10 assists in Germany.Ivory Coast international Diomande joined American agency Roc Nation Sports earlier this year and it's understood the New York-based firm, which was founded by rap star Jay-Z, have been speaking to some of the biggest clubs across European football about their plans following a breakout campaign for the teenager."The Manchester City [vs] Brentford game, look at the two goals that were scored and I can go on and on and on," Slot added about the importance of wingers in the Premier League."Last season, one of the reasons why we were so difficult to play against was because we had threats over on the right side, on the left side."It was not only the wingers, it is the combination between the winger and the full back. Last season I think if you had to describe the style of play I would describe it as it was very reliant on the winger-full back combinations."We have tried that this season again but there hasn’t been the end product that we had last season.

We all - me included - didn't bring the same level that we brought last season."Leipzig are keen to keep Diomande, with Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff saying recently: "If I were managing director of sport, I wouldn't sell this young player. No matter what price is called."However, qualification to next season's Champions League crucially affords Liverpool the additional revenue to continue a rebuild that started with last summer's overhaul that saw around £440m spent, by bringing in Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Giorgi Mamardashvili and attacking trio Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz and Isak.Liverpool are also working on a deal that would see Colombia youth international Samuel Martinez joined from Atletico Nacional when the attacking midfielder turns 18 next year.The Reds are believed to have fended off interest from Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea to move into position to conclude a deal worth around £800,000 for Martinez, who was part of the Colombia side that won the South American U17 Championships last month in Paraguay.FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE!