I know inside story of £50m Liverpool transfer 'target' - he's ready to replace Mohamed Salah

It's so far, so good for Liverpool and Arne Slot with the Reds top of the Premier League and Champions League following Jurgen Klopp's departure earlier this summer.

Plenty of outsiders had backed the Reds for a season of struggle, but as of yet, the Anfield outfit has proven those doubters wrong. If Liverpool are able to maintain their current run of form, there's no reason they can't be serious title contenders come the end of the season.

Away from the pitch, there are a number of big contract calls for the Reds hierarchy to make between now and next summer. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are all in the final year of their contracts and Slot's side face a major rebuild if they were to lose all three key players.

READ MORE: 'No way that's right' - Gary Neville can't believe what he's seen about Liverpool

READ MORE: 'Everybody leaves one day' - Mohamed Salah drops fresh hint about his Liverpool future

Speculation has been quiet in terms of replacing the defensive duo, but Liverpool continue to be linked with a potential Salah replacement that is lighting up the Bundesliga. Eintracht Frankfurt forward Omar Marmoush has been repeatedly linked with the Reds and tipped to fill the void left by his fellow Egyptian.

The ECHO spoke with Christopher Michel, Eintracht Frankfurt reporter for fussball.news, for an insight into the 25-year-old, what he might bring to Liverpool and whether or not he can fill the potential void if Salah were to leave this summer.

"Omar Marmoush is a courageous player who combines the qualities of speed, dribbling power, shooting power and precision," Michel said. "That's why he takes corners and free-kicks at Eintracht.

"Marmoush is something of a “playmaking striker”, which is why he often collects balls deep and then charges forward at speed. He is also a strong provider of assists, having already made 16 assists in 57 competitive matches for Eintracht."

Although capable of playing off the left-hand side of the pitch, Marmoush tends to play through the middle for Frankfurt, meaning he wouldn't necessarily be a direct replacement for Salah out on the right. That being said, an impressive start to the season has made a number of clubs in Europe sit up and take note - and his goalscoring abilities would at least go some way towards filling the hole left should Salah decide his future lies elsewhere at the end of the season.

"I'm now convinced that he can follow in his footsteps," Michel said when asked about Marmoush being dubbed the 'next Salah'. "We can't compare him to the Salah of today.

"Salah didn't make his big breakthrough until he was 24, 25, 26. Marmoush is now the perfect age to take his next big step. So yes, the way he's developing, it's possible."

Liverpool only signed two players in the recent summer transfer window, with Federico Chiesa the only incoming transfer for the here and now. The Italian can operate on the right, though we're yet to see him feature regularly after arriving from Juventus.

The Reds would likely have wriggle room in the transfer market to do some business, but Michel believes Marmoush would be an expensive signing.

"According to our current information, Eintracht wants at least 60 million euros (£49.89m) and bonuses, so it will be expensive," he revealed. "At the moment I assume he will stay [in January].

"Eintracht sporting director Markus Krösche has clearly stated that he wants to keep the squad together in the winter. Marmoush himself feels comfortable and clearly decided to stay with Eintracht in the summer.

"Of course, you never know what will happen if a club suddenly puts an immoral sum on the table. But there is currently no indication that he will leave in the winter.

READ MORE: Omar Marmoush breaks Lionel Messi record in latest transfer message to Liverpool

READ MORE: Eintracht Frankfurt send Omar Marmoush message to Liverpool as transfer 'stance' emerges

"It is well known that Marmoush dreams of the Premier League. But at the moment he only has two goals: To be successful with Eintracht and to work towards being one of the three best players in the world.

"He seems so relaxed and is very likeable. But he has enormous ambition and wants to finish at the top."

The Egyptian was voted the Bundesliga player of the month for September having fought off tough competition, with 11 goals and seven assists in just ten German top flight games.

"Marmoush has created so many outstanding moments, just his three free-kick goals within eight days," Michel added. "But in the 3-3 draw against FC Bayern, he scored a brace and set up another goal.

"Of course, pictures like that go around the football world. That's why this was his outstanding day."

However, he hasn't always been as prolific in front of goal, with Frankfurt boss Dino Toppmöller a key factor in his development. "The development is crazy from Omar Marmoush," Michel said. "Everybody thought, he would replace Jesper Lindström.

"Now he is even better than €95m striker Randal Kolo Muani was. Almost nobody in Frankfurt and Germany could see Marmoush taking such huge steps. It is an incredible development.

"And I am not sure, where it is stopping. In the summer even some fans said, 'Markus Krösche should have sold him for about €25m', because he was at his maximum last season. So, Krösche was right to keep Marmoush. At the moment his performances are world class.

"The reason is coach Dino Toppmöller. He talked and trained a lot with Marmoush. He explained him, that he always needs a plan in the box. Toppmöller was a striker too in his career, so these tips from the coach helped the Egyptian to develop."