Liverpool's expensive summer recruits could finally come good next season, with Mohamed Salah's departure potentially unlocking their true potential.

That's the view of Alan Shearer, who believes the likes of Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak will benefit from being "mentally freed" now that the Egyptian has called time on his nine-year Anfield stay.

Salah departed on a free transfer this summer after what Shearer described as a "really, really frustrating season" despite Liverpool having won the league. The forward had been publicly critical of both the club's style of play and former head coach Arne Slot, who was subsequently sacked on Saturday following his failure to challenge for major honours.

It was a disappointing campaign given the £450million splashed out on new arrivals last summer, with British record £125million signing Isak and £116million man Wirtz among those who struggled with injuries and adaptation periods respectively.

But Shearer expects the duo to thrive now they're no longer operating in Salah's considerable shadow. Speaking to Betfair, the former Southampton striker turned pundit explained how the dynamics will shift.

"Their recruitment last summer hasn't worked yet," Shearer admitted. "Now, Kerkez may get better, Frimpong may get better, Wirtz may get better and Isak may get better and I think, because of Mo Salah leaving, mentally it will free up those guys."

The psychological impact of removing such a dominant figure from the squad shouldn't be underestimated. With Salah no longer the focal point of Liverpool's attack, players like Wirtz and Isak will be forced to step up and assume greater responsibility. Sometimes that pressure can be exactly what's needed to elevate performance levels.

"So I do expect them to get better," Shearer continued. "But with Robertson leaving, and maybe Konate, with Salah, they need another huge summer."

That summer rebuild looks set to be crucial, with Shearer warning against another prolonged adaptation period. The message is clear: Liverpool can't afford to wait 12 to 18 months for new signings to settle in again.

"The signings need to hit the ground running and do well from the off," he stressed.

One player who could provide that immediate impact is 19-year-old RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande, with whom Liverpool have been linked. The Ivory Coast international, who will represent his country in the forthcoming World Cup, has caught Shearer's eye as an ideal addition.

Looking at Liverpool's current forward options, the scale of the challenge becomes apparent. "Liverpool need a host of players in there forward line because with Salah gone, you are left thinking who have they got," Shearer observed. "They've got Isak, they've got Wirtz, they've got Ekitike but he's going to be out, and you've got Gakpo, and Ngumoha."

With Hugo Ekitike facing a spell on the sidelines, the need for reinforcements becomes even more pressing. Shearer believes Liverpool require "another striker in there, and a forward that's ready to go, and ready to come in and score 15 goals."

Enter Diomande, whom Shearer rates highly despite acknowledging the likely hefty price tag. "They are linked with Yan Diomande and he's a really talented player. He would add a lot to Liverpool, but what the fee would be, I'm not quite sure."

"It would obviously be a lot of money, and I guess if they do buy him, then they've watched him several times, so, I think it would be a good buy for them."

The summer ahead promises to be defining for Liverpool's immediate future, with the club needing to prove their expensive recruits can finally deliver whilst simultaneously strengthening a squad that's lost one of its greatest ever players. Whether Wirtz and Isak can indeed flourish in Salah's absence remains the season's biggest question.