Our colleagues at Anfield HQ have conducted an interview with Paul Joyce (Liverpool correspondent for the Express) in which they asked him about our summer transfer plans.
The respected journalist confirmed that Liverpool are interested in Sadio Mane, suggesting that Jurgen Klopp thinks the Southampton man is a perfect fit for his side. According to the reporter, Mane is a Klopp choice – with the manager assuming he’ll slot perfectly into a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formation out wide.
At the end of last week, news that Liverpool were prepared to offer Jordon Ibe as a makeweight in a deal of the 24-year-old Senegalese broke in the Daily Star, to a mixed reception from Reds.
Joyce reckons the story has legs though, and thinks Mane’s pace and goals will add something different to our final third.
Since joining the Premier League from Austria, Mane has 25 goals in 75 appearances – a 1:3 ratio from the wing – scoring the competition’s fastest ever hat-trick as well.
We have a track record of buying from Southampton of course, to mixed success. Adam Lallana and Dejan Lovren, despite recent improvements, were overpriced at £45m. Nathaniel Clyne’s been good and Rickie Lambert flopped – but a deal for Mane would be more expensive than any so far done with the Saints.
After we wrap up the Zielinski deal, don’t be surprised if you see the Mane deal ramp up.
SEE MORE: Liverpool transfer rumours