Why Liverpool should consider selling Mane to Barcelona or Real Madrid this summer
Stefan Bienkowski
- 8 Feb 2022 11:27 CST
- 7 min read
Sadio Mane will return to Liverpool this week as the champion of Africa, following his Senegal side’s victory in the African Cup of Nations.
While the 29-year-old forward won’t gloat too much as if to offend his beloved team mate, Mohamed Salah, Mane may make sure that those around the club are still aware of his talents on the pitch.
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That’s because the player’s position at the Anfield club has come under threat of sorts over the course of the past month and may become even more precarious as we approach the summer transfer window.
Why would Liverpool sell Mane?
While Mane’s success in the AFCON suggests that he’s still a top class player, there are some suggestions that Liverpool have already begun to look into replacing him rather soon.
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This, of course, is largely down to the signing of Porto winger Luis Diaz in the January transfer window, who will likely challenge Mane for a spot on the left wing for the remainder of the season.
Jurgen Klopp may argue that competition is healthy and that Mane is still an integral part of his team, but even the jovial German coach can’t look beyond the forward’s falling numbers for Liverpool.
Two seasons ago Mane was averaging 0.82 goals or assists per 90 for the Anfield club. That number fell last season to 0.61 per 90 and in this current campaign it stands at just 0.48 per 90.
In other words, Mane is just over half as productive in terms of goals and assists for Liverpool this season as he was two years ago.
Who wants to buy him?
When we couple the player’s dip in form with the length of his current contract - which expires next summer - it does make some sense for Liverpool to cash in on Mane before it's too late. And they may find a number of buyers.
According to Goal, the Senegal international has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid or Barcelona.
It remains to be seen whether either Spanish giant would make a move for the player, who turns 30 in April, but it’s becoming more and more clear why Liverpool may look to sell him.
