Liverpool fans are desperate for any kind of positive update on Mohamed Salah's future. Dejan Lovren's re-emergence this week then will prove to be particularly unwelcome.

The defender was great friends with Salah during his time at Anfield, and the two have remained in touch since Lovren departed in 2020. Therefore, the Croatian's suggestion that the Egyptian could be eyeing up an exit carries a bit more weight than some of the other claims that have been made in recent months.

"I think he's closer to leaving, he's closer to leaving than to staying at the moment," Lovren told winwin. "I know what I feel, I hope everything will turn, I honestly hope for the best. In the end, it's for the money, but he's worth it, much more than the money. Who will you replace him with? That would be the first question if I was in the club. I think you would have to pay 200 million to replace him."

READ MORE: 5 Liverpool stars face battle to convince Arne Slot they can be relied on in title run-in

READ MORE: Liverpool injury latest and return dates including Trent Alexander-Arnold as new issues emerge

Of course, it was always a possibility that Liverpool would find itself planning for life without Salah this summer, and with nothing confirmed yet, the Reds will still hold out hope that he stays put on Merseyside. With every passing day though, it does feel as though a replacement may need to be sought.

There have been plenty of names linked in recent times. Liverpool.com has taken a look at five of those who could be in the frame...

Bryan Mbeumo

You don't have to look too far past Salah on the list of the Premier League's top scorers this season for one possible replacement. Bryan Mbeumo's reputation continues to grow at Brentford, having taken up the mantle following Ivan Toney's move to Saudi Arabia.

The 25-year-old has 14 goals, placing him joint-fifth alongside Cole Palmer who has a slight advantage thanks to his six assists compared to Mbeumo's three. Still, those aren't numbers to be sniffed at.

Give Me Sport recently suggested that Liverpool is interested in Mbeumo, with Brentford sticking to a $74m (£60m/€72m) valuation that doesn't seem that unreasonable. Whether he quite fits the bill for Liverpool is the question, but a regular goalscorer with Premier League experience and entering his peak years should be an attractive prospect.

Rodrygo

We know what you're thinking, and we're probably on the same page if we're totally honest. Signing Rodrygo seems too farfetched an idea for Liverpool - but he has been linked for a good while now.

Those rumors have gone a little quiet of late, although Spanish outlet Fichajes has suggested Real Madrid would be open to offers for the Brazilian in the summer. Albeit, that is off the back of interest from Saudi Arabia.

Rodrygo would certainly be quite the coup for Liverpool, and there's not much doubt he has fallen down the pecking order a little at Real after Kylian Mbappe's arrival. He would be an expensive signing, both in terms of fee and wages, so there's more than a grain of doubt that this would be one the Reds would be able to pull off.

Jarrod Bowen

A name that has been linked with Liverpool for a long time, thanks in no small part to Jurgen Klopp's not-so-secret admiration of the West Ham star. With the German gone now though, could Jarrod Bowen still be an option for Liverpool.

Well, he is under contract until 2030, having signed an extension in October 2023, which would more than complicate matters. At 28, he's also probably past the point in which Liverpool and FSG would be interested in securing his services.

A recent report from Football Insider though has suggested the Reds have kept their eye on Bowen. It would probably be more of a stopgap solution, but the England international will already have plenty of fans at Anfield thanks to Klopp.

Johan Bakayoko

As potential auditions go, Johan Bakayoko did any hopes he might have of making his way to Anfield no harm when he came up against the Reds with PSV Eindhoven last month. What might not have helped where his comments after the game.

The Belgian international was rather brash as he claimed he could "definitely" make the move to Liverpool, although his own manager was less than pleased with his showboating against the Reds. Perhaps a bit of a red flag if Arne Slot and Richard Hughes were eyeing him up.

Bakayoko does have plenty of talent though, and at just 21 years of age, there would be plenty for Slot and Liverpool to work with.

Antoine Semenyo

One of the standout stars in what has been such an impressive Bournemouth side this season, Antoine Semenyo has seen his name being linked with some of the Premier League's biggest clubs in recent months, including Liverpool.

Suggestions last month that the Reds could use Ben Doak as part of a potential swap deal look to have been dismissed now (as per The i Paper), but there the links are still there, with Jamie Carragher suggesting Liverpool should be keeping an eye on Semenyo.

The Reds of course already have an in when it comes to the 25-year-old, given Richard Hughes' connections with Bournemouth. Liverpool's sporting director could therefore be key to finding a replacement for Salah - although fingers crossed he doesn't need to do so this summer.