Liverpool Eyes Cheaper Bundesliga Star Bazoumana Toure as Mohamed Salah's Successor

TSG Hoffenheim's attacking midfielder, Bazoumana Toure, is reportedly a prime target for Liverpool.

The English club is said to consider Toure among the top candidates to replace superstar Mohamed Salah, who is expected to depart in the summer.

Liverpool scouts reportedly attended a friendly match in late March at the FC Everton stadium, where Toure played for Ivory Coast against Scotland (1-0). The 20-year-old particularly impressed the observers with his tenacity and physical resilience.

The Hoffenheim player's greatest strength is undoubtedly his exceptional speed, which Liverpool has apparently witnessed live on multiple occasions. The Reds' scouts are reportedly attending Toure's games almost weekly to closely monitor him.

Toure, who joined Hoffenheim from Hammarby IF in Sweden in February 2025, has been one of the Bundesliga's breakout stars this season. In 26 competitive appearances so far, the winger has already notched up eleven assists and scored twice himself. His contract with Hoffenheim runs until 2029, and a summer transfer to Liverpool would reportedly cost around €40 million.

Bazoumana Toure Would Be Significantly Cheaper for Liverpool Than Yan Diomande

This valuation would make Toure considerably more affordable than his Ivorian compatriot Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig. The 19-year-old has publicly expressed his dream of moving to Anfield, and interest is said to be mutual. However, Leipzig would reportedly only be willing to sell Diomande for offers around €100 million. Diomande missed Ivory Coast's friendly against Scotland due to a shoulder injury.

Furthermore, as a left-footed player who can cut inside from the right wing with immense speed to create goalscoring opportunities, Toure's profile aligns better with that of a Salah successor. Hoffenheim's willingness to sell this summer also depends on whether the club can qualify for the Champions League. Should the current fifth-placed team fail to do so, they may be more inclined to lucratively sell key assets like Toure or striker Fisnik Asllani.

Toure could further increase his market value at the World Cup this summer. Ivory Coast will face Germany, Ecuador, and Curacao in the group stage. The Hoffenheim player, who was also linked with FC Bayern Munich a few weeks ago and has reportedly attracted interest from Arsenal and Manchester United, has accumulated five international caps (two goals) to date. He was not a regular starter at the Africa Cup around the turn of the year but impressed as a substitute in three brief appearances, scoring twice.

Mohamed Salah Set to Leave FC Liverpool This Summer

Meanwhile, it became clear in Liverpool at the end of March that a replacement for Salah would be needed this summer. The 33-year-old Egyptian recently announced his impending departure: "Unfortunately, the day has come. This is the first part of my farewell. I will leave Liverpool at the end of the season."

Salah had originally extended his contract by two years until 2027 last April. However, after some disagreements during the current season, which have since been resolved, the prolific goalscorer will now leave the Reds a year earlier than planned.

For Salah's succession, Liverpool is reportedly eyeing Bayern Munich's Michael Olise, a player club legend Steven Gerrard recently recommended to his beloved club. The English side would allegedly be prepared to offer a hefty €200 million for Olise, but Bayern's Sporting Director Max Eberl recently emphasized that they would "under no circumstances" let one of their most important players go.

Bazoumana Toure: His International Appearances for Ivory Coast

Date	Competition	Match	Playing Time
October 10, 2025	World Cup Qualification	Seychelles vs. Ivory Coast 0:7 (1 Assist)	89 Minutes
December 31, 2025	Africa Cup	Ivory Coast vs. Gabon 3:2 (1 Goal)	22 Minutes
January 6, 2026	Africa Cup	Ivory Coast vs. Burkina Faso 3:0 (1 Goal)	15 Minutes
January 10, 2026	Africa Cup	Ivory Coast vs. Egypt 2:3	1 Minute
March 31, 2026	Friendly Match	Scotland vs. Ivory Coast 0:1	90 Minutes