Liverpool may have already spent big in their record-breaking £440m summer outlay, but plans are already underway for the next stage of Arne Slot’s Anfield rebuild.

Central to those discussions is finding long-term successors to Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk, two players who remain world-class but whose peak years are edging towards their natural decline.

Salah succession planning

Salah’s influence at Liverpool remains undiminished, yet at 33 years old, Slot and the recruitment team are wary of preparing for the inevitable drop in output.

The Egyptian forward signed a new contract until 2027, but Liverpool’s approach has always been about refreshing early, ensuring the transition is seamless rather than reactive.

Reports indicate that Michael Olise has emerged as the preferred heir to Salah’s right-sided role. Now at Bayern Munich, Olise has flourished since leaving Crystal Palace, elevating his profile as one of Europe’s most dynamic wide attackers.

Bayern Munich’s stance on Michael Olise

Olise is tied down at Bayern until 2029, which puts the Bundesliga champions in a position of complete control.

According to journalist Pete O’Rourke, any move to bring the Frenchman back to the Premier League would take an enormous bid.

“It’s more than just Liverpool who will be looking at Michael Olise – his career is just going up and up,” O’Rourke explained.

“All top European clubs will be interested. He’s not going to be easy to get out of Bayern, though. You’d be looking at £100m-plus for them to even consider it.”

A transfer battle looming

Liverpool have rarely shied away from spending heavily when the right player is identified, as proven with the £125m record-breaking capture of Alexander Isak.

But prising Olise away from Bayern will be complicated, especially given that Europe’s elite – Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Paris Saint-Germain among them – are also expected to monitor his situation closely.

For Slot, Olise’s creativity, versatility, and ability to drift inside from the right mirror many of Salah’s qualities, making him an ideal stylistic successor.

If Liverpool’s hierarchy feel he is the right fit, they may well sanction another nine-figure fee to ensure the transition into a post-Salah era is as smooth as possible.