Vladimir Smicer has pinpointed Bayern Munich's Michael Olise as the perfect replacement for Mohamed Salah at Liverpool this summer.
And 2005 Champions League winner Smicer says Salah will walk away from Anfield this summer as "one of the greatest players" to have ever turned out for the club, after a decorated nine-year career on Merseyside.
Salah confirmed in a social media video last month that this campaign will be his final one at Anfield and the Egyptian departs as the third highest goalscorer in the club's history behind only Roger Hunt and Ian Rush, with the No.11 currently on 256.
The Egyptian has won two Premier League titles, the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup and was also part of the squads that lifted two League Cups and the 2022 FA Cup.
Smicer, who made 184 appearances for the club between 1999 and 2005 -including the Champions League victory over AC Milan where he scored on the night - thinks Bayern star Olise is the ideal player for the Reds to move away from the Salah era.
"We've seen Liverpool struggling on the flanks, with the wingers," Smicer said.
"We lost Luis Diaz, and Mo Salah is not at his usual standard this season. We need a good winger, especially now we know that Mo Salah is leaving.
"Michael Olise is the name that I like, he's a very good young player, he’s 24, he has experience in the Premier League, he knows the league, that’s so important.
"He's playing really well for Bayern Munich, it's going to be tough to find an agreement with them, we know that. But Olise at Liverpool would be very special."
On Salah's Liverpool legacy, Smicer added: "We had so many good players at this club that we could have a lot of statues around the city.
"Of course, Steven Gerrard and Mohamed Salah, these two guys, were leaders, were top-class players, world-class players, and they are special.
"It's difficult to compare them, but of course, there is the legacy of Stevie G. He's been a local lad, played his whole career for Liverpool. He definitely had chances to leave, but he always stayed.
"Mo Salah's statistics are just unbelievable. Everyone expected him to score 20 or 30 goals every year and took it for granted. But it's not that easy. I think he's the greatest winger ever to play for Liverpool, that's for sure.
"He will get the respect he deserves. If it's a statue or something else, I don't think it's that important, but he will stay in the hearts of the people and the players as one of the greatest ever players for Liverpool."
Vladimir Smicer was speaking to BetVictor, who offer the latest World Cup betting.
