Dean Saunders has told TalkSPORT on Tuesday that Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung-min would have been the perfect replacement for Sadio Mane at Liverpool – claiming only a couple of players could have really replaced Mane.
Mane, 30, left Liverpool after six years at Anfield to join Bayern in the summer. He has made an excellent start, scoring five goals in nine games for the German champions. He has the chance to add to that, against Barcelona on Tuesday.
But his exit has left a gaping hole at Anfield. The Reds are struggling and many are putting it down to Mane’s exit. Luis Diaz has of course, arrived, as has Darwin Nunez. While Diaz is excelling as Liverpool struggle, the loss of Mane is felt.
Saunders, an ex-Liverpool striker, was asked who he thinks should have replaced Mane at Anfield. He picked Son, claiming that the South Korea skipper – who is struggling for goals this season – was one of only a couple of options.
“When Mane was leaving Liverpool, I thought there are only a couple of players who could replace him, and I thought Son would have been the one,” Saunders told TalkSPORT, as quoted by the Daily Express on Tuesday.
Saunders: Tottenham star Son perfect replacement for Mane at Liverpool
Unfortunately for Liverpool, Son would never have been available. Son agreed a new four-year deal at Tottenham in 2021. The added ingredient of having a trophy-winner in Antonio Conte at the helm is always going to see him stay.
Just look at Harry Kane. In the summer just gone, there was never any talk of Kane leaving – despite coming close to a move to Manchester City in the summer prior Yes, there is talk of Bayern, but Kane will not want to leave England.
Son has never been on the table. Had he been, there is no doubt that Liverpool might have moved. But at 30 years of age, is there a realistic chance that Son could leave Spurs for another big side? Or is Son now likely to remain at Spurs.
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