Liverpool Transfer News: Sadio Mane Bid Expected Amid Manchester United Rumours

Liverpool are reportedly ready to part with £30 million to bring Southampton’s Sadio Mane to the club, usurping Manchester United in the process. 

That’s according to an exclusive piece from Alan Nixon in the Sun, who noted that Reds manager Jurgen Klopp is moving closer to landing his man, with new Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho “not as convinced by Mane as his club’s scouts.”

Mane is said to be interested in making the move to Merseyside for a sum of £25 million plus add-ons, according to Nixon, who also stated that the arrival of the 24-year-old would “put fresh pressure” on Daniel Sturridge and Danny Ings.

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The Senegal international is a spectacular footballer on his day, capable of altering the course of a game with his piercing dribbling and his reputation for the spectacular.

When Mane is on form, he’s one of the standout footballers in the division, although the main issue with the player during his time on the south coast has been the irregular nature of his performances.

The lack of consistency in Mane’s game is summed up by his goalscoring form throughout the 2015-16 campaign. As Sky Sports Statto notes, he finished the season with a flourish after several barren months:

Klopp may feel he can harness and refine the talents of this player. After all, Mane is young and still learning about the game. He has an unorthodox running style, and while his decision-making is a little unpredictable, it’s an attribute that catches defenders off guard. That diversity, if used in the right manner, can be devastating.

Mane would also bring something different to Liverpool’s attacking setup. Since losing Raheem Sterling last summer, the team has lacked a thrust from wide areas, with neither Philippe Coutinho nor Adam Lallana possessing searing pace. The Southampton man does, and he would give opponents a direct threat to worry about.

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Bleacher Report’s Jack Lusby thinks the fact the Reds are now willing to spend big money on the player is a damning indictment of their recruitment policy:

Indeed, £30 million is a lot to spend on a player who's not the finished article yet. But Southampton are renowned for wanting big money for any key player they sell.

If Liverpool were able to edge in front of United to secure the player, it would be a big boost. While the Anfield club don’t have any European football on offer for new acquisitions in 2016-17, they’ll be hoping the prospect of a bright future under Klopp will ensnare their key targets.

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The Reds would arguably be a better team for Mane to continue developing as well. After all, as Bleacher Report’s Rob Blanchette noted here, United have a lot of dynamic attackers on their books already:

Mane would be a major gamble for any team. While he has made some improvements under Ronald Koeman on the south coast in his two years at the club, he is still inconsistent. 

If the rough edges in his game can be smoothed down, there is little stopping Mane from cementing his status as one of the division’s most fearsome attacking players.

Klopp has helped hone the skills of similarly raw footballers before, and that could prompt him into rolling the dice on the Southampton star.