Liverpool are claimed to be keen on Southampton winger Sadio Mane.
Sadio Mane celebrates after scoring the second goal for Southampton
Are Liverpool set to raid Southampton for a third consecutive summer?
The Express report that after being knocked back in their pursuit of Bayern Munich’s Mario Gotze, the Reds are to turn their attention to Saints winger Sadio Mane.
Mane scored 15 goals in all competitions last season, with 11 coming in the Premier League – more goals than Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney.
Southampton’s Sadio Mane in action against Liverpool
Southampton signed him two seasons ago from Red Bull Salzburg for less than half the £25 million which The Express report Liverpool will have to pay to sign him.
The 24-year-old Senegalese star netted a stunning hat-trick against Manchester City late in the season, and impressed Jurgen Klopp first hand at St Mary’s by inspiring his side to a 3-2 comeback win over Liverpool by scoring a brace.
Southampton’s Sadio Mane in action with Crystal Palace’s Mile Jedinak and Joel Ward
Mane is fast, direct, and the type of player Liverpool wish youngster Jordon Ibe would develop into.
With the Reds looking to climb up the table and improve on their eight placed finish last season – two places below Southampton – making a signing of his calibre would be a statement of intent.
One difficulty could be a lack of Champions League or Europa League football, with ESPN only a few days ago claiming Arsenal are keen to snap him up.
Liverpool do have an established contact with Southampton, having signed Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, Rickie Lambert, and Nathaniel Clyne from the Saints since 2014.
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