Liverpool could sign £30m 'next Erling Haaland' as Roberto Firmino successor for Jürgen Klopp

For every striker over the next decade or more that emerges at Red Bull Salzburg, Erling Haaland is going to be the inevitable yardstick — and an unfair one at that.

The Austrian Bundesliga side are known for the developing of top talents and Liverpool have taken a look there plenty of times before. The next one off the production line could well be someone being linked with the Reds already.

The latest man to be tasked with leading the line for Salzburg has already netted 10 goals this season and is currently with Switzerland as they compete at the World Cup.

In fact, Noah Okafor is a couple of months older than Haaland, so the ‘next’ tag is not a perfect fit. But very few players blossom as early as the Manchester City striker, who became the fastest player ever to reach 25 Champions League goals earlier this season. His Swiss successor at Salzburg could yet follow a similar path, albeit on something of a delay.

Okafor, valued at just under £22m by Transfermarkt, scored one of his goals against AC Milan in the Champions League this season, with Salzburg ultimately holding out for a respectable draw. It was his fifth goal in 10 games at the time — not up there with Haaland numbers, but a strong tally all the same.

He has a similar ratio at the moment and in particular, Liverpool scouts will like the fact that he is proving himself on the European stage.

It will be remembered that this was ultimately what convinced FSG to part with a potentially record-breaking sum to land Darwin Núñez. On a smaller scale, the impression left by Takumi Minamino in the Champions League was enough to convince Liverpool to go for him, ultimately turning a healthy profit. They may yet end up returning to the same destination.

On the flip side, Minamino never exactly settled at Anfield, which will reinforce concerns about adapting from the Austrian league. Haaland is a powerful counterpoint, but he is an exception in just about every sense — and even he had a stepping stone move to the Bundesliga.

But the Salzburg talent production factory is relentless, and Liverpool could be forgiven for wanting to use their strong relationship with Red Bull to get in on the ground floor.

According to Italian publication Calciomercato, they are battling with AC Milan, Manchester City, Arsenal and others for the player's signature, with a price tag of £30m having been suggested. With the possible exit of Roberto Firmino in 2023, while midfield is a priority first, the attack might need another body sooner rather than later too.

In Okafor, if they put the money on the table and were able to win the race, they would be getting a forward with more versatility than Haaland. He has been played exclusively as an out-and-out striker this season, but in the past has featured heavily on both wings. In that respect, his strong level of two-footedness comes in handy: a right-footer, he could nonetheless plausibly play understudy for Mohamed Salah.

Against Tirol last season, he scored a goal irresistibly reminiscent of Salah, using his left foot to bend it into the top-left corner from the right-hand edge of the box. It would have been impressive for anyone, but especially for someone notionally stronger on the other side.

The goal against Milan was very different, but equally as good. This time coming in from the other side, Okafor bamboozled Pierre Kalulu with his skill and directness, ultimately leaving him on the deck after sliding the ball through his legs. He then calmly placed the ball beyond the goalkeeper, curling it into the right-hand corner.

Liverpool would no doubt have to pay a decent sum to land Okafor. Since Salzburg let Haaland go for just £18m, they have turned into ruthless sellers. Patson Daka cost Leicester City £23m, despite showing less potential than his predecessor. Benjamin Šeško has recently set RB Leipzig back £55m (via the Daily Mail), in a deal agreed ahead of time for 2023. Brenden Aaronson and Karim Adeyemi raised a combined £57m this summer too.

But if FSG could agree a reasonable transfer fee and beat the competition, there is much to admire about the forward. Stylistically, he may not quite be the next Haaland — but Liverpool would not want that, having already moved for Núñez. A versatile attacker from a club fast getting a reputation for churning out elite players is always worth keeping in mind: especially when he starts to light up the Champions League, and Firmino needs replacing.