Former Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann said he "wouldn't be surprised" if Mohamed Salah joined Bayern Munich as a free agent at the end of the season - and was joined by Caoimhin Kelleher.

Salah has started the season in fine form for Liverpool, scoring 13 goals and assisting 11 more, but it remains uncertain whether he will be a Reds player beyond the end of this campaign, with his current deal due to expire next June.

The Egyptian recently claimed he was "more out than in" having not received a concrete offer to stay at the club, but it has been widely reported that it is his preference to remain a Liverpool player next season and beyond.

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However, while a deal is yet to be signed, anything could happen, and he will be free to sign a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club from January 1 next year.

And Hamann thinks Salah could be playing for Bayern at the beginning of the 2024-25 campaign. "If Liverpool don't offer him a contract, I wouldn't be surprised to see Mohamed Salah end up at Bayern Munich," Hamann told Genting Casino. "At the moment, they've got wingers who haven’t really set the world alight on the pitch. I wouldn’t be surprised if they tried to bring him in. They won’t be the only club either, he wants to play at the highest level and if that’s not with Liverpool it will be at another huge club.

"Liverpool have always done their business differently to other teams. Mohamed Salah has been their best player for eight years, he still averages 25 goals, but he is 32 now. It’s bizarre if the club hasn't spoken to him, but I do think he will be offered a new two-year contract. He will want a four year deal but things can change so quickly when you are in your 30s.

"Clubs always have to be so wary over that and I have no doubt he has two more years at the top level, but if he wants a longer deal then it could be an issue. I’m not sure Mohamed Salah can be replaced when it comes to scoring big goals in big games, you can always count on him. There are other talented players out there but not like Salah."

Meanwhile, Hamann accepted that Liverpool will almost definitely lose Kelleher next summer. The Northern Ireland international has been excellent while he has been deputizing for the injured Alisson over the last couple of months, but previously publicly stated his intention to leave in order to be a first-choice goalkeeper elsewhere.

Arne Slot has praised Kelleher's form in recent weeks but reiterated on a number of occasions that Alisson will be restored to the first team when he recovers from a hamstring injury. "The only way to keep Caoimhin Kelleher at Liverpool is to start him," Hamann added. "For me he is one of the top five keepers around and I could only name a few better in the Premier League.

"I think Alisson will come back in to play after his injury, but one more big injury for him and I think Kelleher will take the spot for good. At some stage Kelleher is going to have to play or Liverpool will lose him. We will have to see what happens when Giorgi Mamardashvili arrives, but Kelleher cannot be the number two for another season.

"He has said that the club has refused to let him go, but if I was at a top club like Bayern Munich I’d be looking at him to replace Manuel Neuer. That’s how good he is."