Wataru Endo names the LaLiga star he would sign to replace Mohamed Salah at Liverpool - as midfielder reveals the search for Egyptian winger's successor at Anfield 'has begun'

Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo has tipped one of his Japan team-mates to be the perfect replacement for Mohamed Salah at Liverpool.

Salah has one year remaining on his existing contract at Anfield and has previously been courted by Saudi Arabian sides keen to bring him to the Middle East.

The Egyptian was the subject of bids in excess of £200m last year only for Liverpool to reject the huge offers as they sought to keep one of the Premier League's best players in place.

Salah and Endo are two of the few senior players that were named in Liverpool's 28-man travelling squad for the pre-season tour of the United States that will see the Reds play Real Betis, Arsenal and Man United.

However, Salah will currently be available to leave Anfield on a free transfer at the end of next season unless an extension is agreed and Endo has named one of his national team colleagues as a perfect replacement.

Endo moved to Liverpool in a £16.2m deal from Bundesliga side Stuttgart last summer and became a key midfield player under former manager Jurgen Klopp.

New boss Arne Slot is yet to be boosted with any reinforcements during the transfer window but LaLiga star Takefusa Kubo has been linked with a potential move to the club.

The Real Sociedad winger has attracted interest from around Europe, but a deal for him to make the switch to Liverpool is not close despite reports in Japan stating a £50m transfer is set to be agreed.

In a bid to boost confidence Endo admitted the search for 32-year-old Salah was underway and tipped left-footed Kubo as a readymade successor.

'The search for a replacement for Mohamed Salah has begun, so this is becoming a real area for Liverpool to strengthen,' Endo told Abema Sports Time.

'I think the player who can replace him, in the national team, would be Kubo,' he added.

Despite claims Kubo had arrived in England with the deal set to be finalised imminently Mail Sport's Lewis Steele insisted the reports are 'premature', with Slot determined to assess his squad during their pre-season tour of the US.

Kubo, who has been referred to as the 'Japanese Messi' for his skills and technique enjoyed a brief stint in Barcelona's academy before joining FC Tokyo. 

The 23-year-old was rewarded for his performances in the J1 League with a first international cap and went on to join Real Madrid in the summer of 2019 before respective loan spells at Mallorca, Villarreal and Getafe.