Mohamed Salah has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid, but Barcelona legend Rivaldo believes those at Camp Nou should be plotting a raid on Liverpool.
On the back of a 44-goal debut campaign at Anfield, Salah has been showered with praise and prestigious awards.
He is now the holder of the Premier League Golden Boot, the PFA Player of the Year prize and the FWA Footballer of the Year gong.
The Egypt international is considered to be performing at a level which puts him in Ballon d’Or contention, and Rivaldo believes that should be drawing interest from Catalunya.
The 1999 World Player of the Year told Express Sport when asked who Barca should be looking to lure away from English football: “From the Premier League? Salah [because] he’s a great player. He is a game changer.”
Salah will get another opportunity to cement a superstar standing on Saturday when he leads Liverpool into a Champions League final clash with Real Madrid in Kiev.
That contest will place him into direct competition with five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 25-year-old forward has already drawn comparisons to Madrid’s Portuguese talisman, and Barcelona icon Lionel Messi, but has been quick to play down such talk.
Rivaldo believes that is wise, with the World Cup winner of the opinion that Salah has some way to go before he can claim to sit alongside two all-time greats, with another change of scenery required for a man who has already graced the Premier League and Serie A.
He added: “No, if he isn’t there, he’s close, but he needs to keep it up, like they do.
“I hope he does that as well, in other championships, that it’s not just a one championship thing.
“He has to keep what Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi kept for 10 years - he’s very close now.
“He’ll face more difficulties as the Premier League is harder than the Spanish Championship.”