After various Premier League clubs have attempted to lure the Senegalese star away from the south coast in previous seasons, Liverpool may just broken Southamptons resolve and captured the signature of Sadio Mane.
Just as Jurgen Klopp’s fascination with fellow Borussia Dortmund alumni Mario Gotze looks to have to come to and end, according to the Guardian newspaper, the speed winger is the German managers next preferred option.
With the likes of Nathaniel Clyne and Morgan Schneiderlin moving on to pastures new at the start of last season, Mane helped Ronald Koeman’s Saints side to an impressive 6th position. It is understood that there has always been an internal agreement with Mane that Southampton will let him leave this summer if he so wishes. Whilst negotiation over a fee have continued for over a month, its believed that the club has reduced their skyhigh requirement of £40m to a more reasonable £30m, with Southampton more than doubling their money on their striker ever since he was signed from Metz for around £12m.
At that price, Mane will become the sides third most expensive signing ever, with current striker Christian Benteke holding on to second and huge flop Andy Carroll still number one.
Whilst the signature of Mane will certainly improve Liverpool’s squad, are Red’s fans that excited about a forward that just netted 11 times last year? Time will most certainly tell.