Liverpool Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Sadio Mane and Fabian Schar

Sadio Mane has revealed he opted to stay at Southampton rather than move to Manchester United in 2015. It's a decision the Senegalese forward believes has been justified by the success he's enjoyed since signing for United's great rivals Liverpool this summer.

Mane made the revelation during an interview with Chris Bascombe of the Sunday Telegraph, with the latter describing how former United manager Louis van Gaal bid £25 million for the jet-heeled attacker in the summer of 2015.

However, Mane decided to stay put for another season:

"

In my head I thought I would be there a couple more years and prove something. I was convinced I still had to prove something, improve more and learn more before I moved to a bigger club. But then I knew when the right time was for me. The extra year helped me get better, and it is important for every player to go step by step.

It was only when Liverpool came in [last summer] that I never had a second thought and knew I wanted to join. It was different because then was the right moment for me. I finally came to Liverpool and I was happy with that, and now I'm happy I am playing against Manchester United.

"

Mane and Liverpool are happy, but United ought to rue missing out. After all, the now-former Southampton man has been in sparkling form since leaving the south coast for Anfield in a deal said to be worth £34 million.

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The 24-year-old has added the lightning pace, physical power and direct running Liverpool's forward line missed last season. Those qualities have proved to be ideal in the slick, high-intensity and press-crazed brand of attacking football manager Jurgen Klopp is preaching on the red half of Merseyside.

It's no wonder Mane has helped himself to three goals and provided an assist in just six Premier League games so far this season, according to WhoScored.com.

More important than the numbers, though, Mane has brought an extra level of threat to a team already capable of countering at breakneck speed and producing rapid transitions in the final third.

Sky Sports pundit Thierry Henry praised that fear factor (h/t Metro's Chris Davie): "And, something that's been gone in the game, he wants the ball at his feet, but he also wants to run in behind, every single time, and that creates fear."

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United might have had those priceless qualities at their disposal if the much-maligned Van Gaal had gotten his way. Instead, the Red Devils are having to watch Mane make Liverpool viable again in the title picture.

Klopp Keen on Swiss Centre-Back

If there's one thing likely to undermine a Liverpool title charge, it's a leaky defence. The Anfield club has already been breached 10 times this season, per the division's official site.

Yet Klopp seems aware of the problem and is reportedly already lining up a possible solution. The player in question is Switzerland international Fabian Schar. Klopp is said to be keen on the Hoffenheim centre-back, according to Paul Brown of the Daily Star Sunday.

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Schar is valued at £9 million, but Hoffenheim don't want to sell in January, per the report. Brown also reported how the capable and cultured 24-year-old defender has attracted interest from Liverpool's domestic rivals Arsenal.

The Gunners signed Schar's international team-mate Granit Xhaka this summer, and their interest in Schar is understandable. After all, he's useful in the air at both ends of the pitch and accomplished on the ball.

Of course, those are qualities Klopp would also love to see at the heart of Liverpool's defence. He's even "confident a deal can be agreed," according to Brown, who pointed how Liverpool have been scouting the central defender on international duty.

Schar is a player with considerable upside. His reading of the game is solid, as is his physical presence. Klopp's squad lacks a defender who boasts both attributes, as Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip have muddled through games.

A refresh is needed at the back, and Schar represents as good a value as any other potential replacement Klopp is likely to find.

Spending shrewdly has been a hallmark of Klopp's Anfield rebuild. It worked with Mane, but the manager must exercise similarly sharp judgment in his search for new defenders.