Former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey believes Paris Saint-Germain winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia would be the ideal player to help fill the void left by Mohamed Salah’s departure from Anfield.
Salah brought the curtain down on a glittering nine-year Liverpool career following Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Brentford. During his time on Merseyside, the Egyptian established himself as one of the club’s greatest players, winning multiple major honours including two Premier League titles and the Champions League.
With Liverpool now preparing for a new era under Arne Slot, attention has turned to how the club will replace the goals, creativity and influence that Salah provided for nearly a decade. Slot has already confirmed Liverpool are targeting at least one new wide attacker this summer.
Heskey believes Kvaratskhelia stands out as the perfect candidate. The Georgia international has continued to enhance his reputation since leaving Napoli for Paris Saint-Germain and is expected to feature in the Champions League final against Arsenal. Heskey views the 25-year-old as a player capable of bringing excitement, unpredictability and attacking intensity to Liverpool’s frontline.
The former England striker argued that Liverpool should not focus on finding a direct replacement for Salah because such a player simply does not exist. Instead, he believes the club must evolve their attack and build a different type of forward line around a player like Kvaratskhelia.
Heskey also highlighted the potential of Liverpool’s emerging and established attacking options, suggesting Kvaratskhelia could form part of an exciting new-look frontline alongside youngsters such as Rio Ngumoha and transfer targets linked with the club.
Replacing Salah’s contribution will be one of the biggest challenges Liverpool have faced in recent years. The Egyptian consistently delivered elite numbers, regularly surpassing 20 goals a season while combining goalscoring with creativity and leadership. His departure leaves a gap that may require multiple players and a fresh tactical approach rather than one marquee signing.
Kvaratskhelia’s technical ability, direct running and flair have made him one of Europe’s most admired wingers, but prising him away from PSG would be far from straightforward. Nevertheless, Heskey believes the Georgian possesses the qualities needed to become a fan favourite at Anfield and help Liverpool begin life after Salah.
Whether Liverpool make a move remains to be seen, but Kvaratskhelia is rapidly emerging as one of the names most closely linked with the club’s next generation of attacking stars.
