Steven Gerrard tells Liverpool ultimate summer signing they have to make – but doubts it’ll ever happen

Steven Gerrard has earmarked ‘the best player in the Bundesliga’ as his dream Liverpool replacement for Mohamed Salah.

The legendary Reds captain joined talkSPORT Breakfast to discuss all things around Anfield, from Arne Slot to Trent Alexander-Arnold.

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Stevie G joined fellow Rangers hero Ally McCoist and ex-England teammate Gabby Agbonlahor on Tuesday morning.

The 114-cap Three Lions international wasted little time in identifying a solution behind Liverpool’s biggest problem – replacing Salah.

The Egyptian, who only signed a two-year deal last year, will cut his contract short to leave the club as a free agent this summer.

Michael Olise, recently hailed as Bayern Munich’s best player after completing the Bundesliga, is Gerrard’s ideal replacement for Salah.

However, the 45-year-old accepted that Vincent Kompany‘s men would be unlikely to let the former Crystal Palace star go easily.

Olise like-for-like Salah replacement

“I think the concern, if you’re trying to replace Salah, in terms of like, for like, I think there’s very few out there that you can go and grab,” Gerrard started during his wide-ranging talkSPORT interview.

“Olise would be one, I would say, but I don’t think he’d be available, but from experience, being around Liverpool as a player, and also since I’ve left, Liverpool’s recruitment team will have different options, and that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll look for a like-for-like.

“When we had to replace [Sadio] Mane, for example, we went for [Luis] Diaz, who’s slightly different, or when [Luis] Suarez has left, they’ve had different types of options to try and replace the players.

“But Liverpool have got a fantastic record of replacing top players that have gone before, so I’ve got every confidence from a recruitment point of view that they’ll have different types of options, not necessarily a like-for-like.

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“One thing is for certain, they have to try and replace some kind of his goal involvement in terms of goals and assists, which is extremely difficult because he’s been incredible for Liverpool for many years.”

Olise can raise his stock even higher in the Champions League, with Bayern Munich set to face Real Madrid on Tuesday evening.

The Frenchman will face off against former Liverpool vice-captain Alexander-Arnold, who will be looking to send a message of his own.

The Real Madrid right-back was recently left out of Thomas Tuchel’s 35-man squad and hasn’t featured for England since last June.

His World Cup prospects looked bleaker still when Ben White was handed a late call-up despite his previous four-year England exile.

Asked whether he was surprised by his fellow Scouser’s international omission, Gerrard replied: “Yes, even more surprised if you look at the last two England games, I think it was crying out for Trent-like quality.

“In terms of that creation that you need, against Uruguay, against Japan, you need someone who’s going to be able to open the door, or someone off the bench who can come on and improve things if things are not going how you want them to go, so for him to not be in the 35 best England players for me is a huge shock, very surprised.

“The only good and positive thing about that is he’s got time to resurrect it, I’m not in Thomas Tuchel‘s shoes, but if I was, the first thing I would have been doing after the Japan game is getting on the phone back to Trent and saying, ‘Listen, it’s not over for you son, on the back of them two performances.’

“We’ve all been in that situation where you’re suspended, or you’re injured and the team don’t do well, and then everyone thinks you’re better than what you are,” Gerrard continued.

“I know we’ve all been there, but I don’t think the get-together has done Trent any harm at all.

“Listen, it was an experimental international break, he can go either way, you can win comfortably in both games, and then the nation gets carried away and the more pressure on the players. I think it was a bit of a reality check, a bit of a wake-up call, but I have no doubt.

“Wen he gets his best players back in the squad and back on the pitch, i.e. your [Harry] Kane’s, your Declan Rice‘s, your Jude Bellingham‘s, you get your proper pillars in that team, your proper keeper in place and a set-back forward, there’s no doubt about it, these group of players have proved they can go the distance.

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“What I mean by that is semi-finals and finals, and I have no doubt they can go and have another huge massive effort in the summer, but the last international break was a washout, and in terms of some of the managers’ personal decisions, I don’t agree with because I think that these players can make a difference for them come the summer.”

Gerrard’s managerial future

Gerrard may not be in Tuchel’s shoes, but there could still be a chance he’s back in the dugout amid links with another head coach role.

The former Aston Villa and Rangers gaffer has been out of the game since leaving Saudi Pro League side Al Ettifaq last year.

On a potential comeback, Gerrard told talkSPORT: “Listen, I’m more ready than I have been.

“My family are back home at Liverpool, kids are all settled at school. I’m more ready than I have been; I’m all ears.

“But at the same time, I’m not chasing, I’m not searching, I’m not desperate. I’m in a good place, work-life balance is fantastic at the moment, but if the right opportunity comes, I’m all ears to listen to that.

“I’m having a fantastic time at TNT with Ally and the boys, and the girls, really enjoying it.

“I’m covering some good games, big games, I’m excited to take my little lad to watch the next Champions League games.

“I’m in a really good place, and I’m ready for opportunities. If not, I’m happy with my work-life balance, life’s good, no complaints at all.”