Real Madrid have made Liverpool’s talismanic winger Sadio Mane their biggest transfer priority ahead of the summer window, according to The Mirror.
The Reds will be keen to hold onto the Senegal international due to how influential he is for the team, but it is said that Los Blancos feel £130-140m would be enough to force Liverpool’s hand to sell him.
Madrid are confident that they will be able to tempt Mane, but the question remains about whether selling him would be good business for Liverpool.
FFC writers have given their verdicts on whether this hefty price should be enough for them to let Mane leave.
James Beavis
“If the offer does arrive, Michael Edwards shouldn’t even hesitate, take the money and buy Jadon Sancho – a reported target.
“Sadio Mane has been nothing short of unbelievable for Liverpool during his time at Anfield with 77 goals and 34 assists in 161 appearances in all competitions, but he is 28 next month and you have to wonder whether he can get any better than he already is right now.
“In those terms, £130-£140m is a lot of money for a player, especially when you consider that Sancho could be available for around £100m this summer.
“That means Liverpool could, in theory, sell Mane, buy Sancho and still have money left over to strengthen another position in the squad.
“Sancho is 19 and already has eight more assists than the Senegal international has for the Reds in 71 fewer senior appearances for Borussia Dortmund, showing the quality and potential he has for the future.
“It could be one of the hardest decisions Jurgen Klopp ever has to make, but it would be the right one.”
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Jack Saville
“Michael Edwards will be drooling at the prospect of making such a huge profit on a player Liverpool signed for just £34m in June 2016, but he shouldn’t let business instinct cloud his judgement in regard to Mane’s future.
“The Senegal international is a contender for the club’s Player of the Season award and has consistently been an outstanding performer both domestically and in Europe, so it’s little surprise Real Madrid are eyeing his signature.
“Even in today’s grossly inflated transfer market £140m represents an incredible sum of money, but Liverpool need to strengthen the foundations they’ve meticulously built under Jurgen Klopp if they wish to continue challenging Manchester City at the summit of the Premier League.
“Selling Mane would be a big mistake from the Reds.”
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Jonathan Radcliffe
“There has been plenty of talk about one of Liverpool’s potential front three leaving, but it shouldn’t be Sadio Mane who should depart. If anyone, it has to be Mohamed Salah. There are accusations that Salah is selfish, whilst Mane comes across far more humble – we saw that as he received the African Player of the Year award.
“With 18 goals and 12 assists in all competitions, the Senegal international has been stupendous – that is not to say Salah hasn’t, but you get the feeling that the Reds would miss the former Southampton man more. Michael Edwards must be strong and resist the temptation to sell – he is just too good.”
Danny Lewis
“Liverpool had what felt like a veil of invincibility earlier in the season, while their unbeaten run in the Premier League was still going. However, a loss against Watford and two at the hands of Atletico Madrid means that has well and truly slipped for now.
“With this in mind, seeing the club lose one of their most feared assets would surely mean that Klopp’s side would be seen as one that can be more realistically beaten – even if he is replaced by a high-profile signing.
“Getting to the top is difficult, as Liverpool have discovered from years of being patient, but staying there can be even harder. Allowing your best players to flee the nest for other European giants is not the way to ensure the men in red are on top of the Premier League and Europe next term and it would act as a massive blow.”
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