Liverpool winger Sadio Mane was Jurgen Klopp's first major signing at Liverpool, joining the Reds from Southampton in the summer of 2016.
Mane joined the club for a reported fee of around £40million and has been a stalwart in Liverpool's success since Klopp took charge. The Senegalese winger was named Reds' Player of the Season for his performances in his debut campaign on Merseyside, and is now classed as one of the elite forwards in European football.
At 29-years-old, and having lifted the Premier League, Champions League, Carabao Cup, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup with Liverpool, there is an uncertainty as to what the club does regarding Mane's contract situation. With the arrival of Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz, and both players having performed brilliantly for the Reds, there are ready-made replacements at the club should Mane move on.
What has been said about Sadio Mane's future at Liverpool?
Following Liverpool's 3-1 home victory over Norwich, Klopp was full of praise for Mane saying: "He’s a world-class striker. Wherever he will play, left-wing, right-wing, centre, he’s a world-class striker.
"It’s really helpful to have him here. He helped the team out today massively with first playing in the centre, then going back to left-wing, then being in the right moment in the centre to do the bicycle kick."
Mane commented on the arrival of Diaz following the Colombian joining the club the January transfer window. The 29-year-old said, "I don't see it as competition, I see it as making each other better players. If you want to be a great team you need these kinds of players.”
Former Reds' midfielder Salif Diao commented on Mane's ongoing contract situation saying, "He is a top-class player, and I think it would be a mistake for the club to keep waiting for this negotiation. If the club had a clear understanding of what they want from him, they need to start discussions.
"I want him to stay in Liverpool but, again, those are discussions between the club and agents. Probably they have started those discussions, but I would love to see him stay."
Which clubs are interested in signing Sadio Mane?
According to reports, Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid are keeping tabs on Mane's ongoing situation at Liverpool. Both clubs are rumoured to be interested in making a move for the Senegalese forward should his contract not be renewed.
Former Liverpool goalkeeper David James commented on the rumours admitting it may be a good time for Mane to move on. “With Mane you’ve got a player who at some point isn’t going to be playing at the levels he once was,” James told GGRecon .
“With the signing of [Luis] Diaz you can see that there’s already a replacement in reserve and if he does have desires to move abroad then sooner would be better than later for him. He’s just had success in the AFCON and he’s accomplished what he’s needed to accomplish in the past three or four years."
