Michael Owen believes Liverpool face a pivotal summer in the transfer market, insisting the club “have to replace” Mohamed Salah as they prepare for life without their talismanic forward.

Salah, one of the most prolific players in Liverpool’s modern history, is set to leave at the end of the season along with long-serving left-back Andy Robertson. The uncertainty surrounding goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who has been linked with Juventus, adds another layer of complexity to Arne Slot’s first major rebuild at Anfield.

Owen, speaking to talkSPORT, argued that while Liverpool’s squad only needs “a little bit of surgery,” the hole left by Salah on the right side of the attack will be the most difficult and most urgent to fill.

“They are going to have to do only a little bit of surgery on the team; they have spent a fortune last year,” Owen said, referencing a transfer outlay of around £450 million. “I know they recouped a lot of money last year but they spent a lot of it and I doubt they have any left to spend again, but they are going to have to replace Salah, that’s the first port of call.”

Owen highlighted that, despite Liverpool’s array of forwards, none naturally replicate Salah’s profile as a left-footed, right-sided attacker who consistently delivers goals and assists.

“There’s no one in the team currently who is like Salah, a right-sided attacker. There are plenty of options going forward but none on the right side,” he added.

Beyond the forward line, Liverpool are expected to target reinforcements at right-back and in central midfield. That midfield could also be reshaped by the future of Curtis Jones, who continues to attract interest from Inter Milan.

Former Italy forward Antonio Cassano has publicly urged Inter to move for the 25-year-old, describing the Liverpool academy graduate as an ideal fit for the Serie A champions.

“Curtis Jones for Inter? He would be an excellent signing. He’s a pacy midfielder. He’s a Champions League-oriented player. He’d be better than Scott McTominay,” Cassano said on the Viva El Futbol podcast.

In the short term, Liverpool’s preparations have been complicated by injuries. Alexander Isak, Alisson, Ibrahima Konaté and Salah were all absent from training on Wednesday, with Salah and Alisson both managing hamstring problems and Konaté’s absence unexplained.