Liverpool are considering a move for the Southampton forward Sadio Mané after their hopes of bringing Mario Götze to Anfield were put on hold.
The Express report that Liverpool are ready to bid £25m for yet another Southampton player, having already signed Nathaniel Clyne, Dejan Lovren, Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert. This time round, however, it is Senegalese forward, Sadio Mané being linked with a move to Merseyside.
Mané is expected to be a target for Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur this summer. The Senegal international is of interest to Jürgen Klopp, who is in the market for a forward who suits his high pressing game at Liverpool.
Klopp is looking to boost his attacking options and was initially looking to reunite with former player Götze , who was reported to be unhappy at Bayern with a lack of playing time. However, with Carlo Ancelotti poised to take charge of the German champions, Götze has decided to stay and fight for his place for another season.
Liverpool had been confident of a deal for the World Cup winner before he changed agents and declared this week that he intended to fight for his place at Bayern under his new coach. Götze has only 12 months remaining on his contract at Bayern, however, and Bayern’s chief executive, has suggested the player’s U-turn was intended to remove speculation over his future before the European Championships.
That decision leaves Liverpool looking at other targets,and their attention has now turned to Sadio Mané, who cost Southampton £11,8 million from Red Bull Salzburg. He scored 21 goals in his 67 appearances for the Saints, 11 goals coming last season.
Mané would cost significantly more than the £20m earmarked for Götze and remains under contract at Southampton until 2018. Liverpool have not yet made an official approach for him but Klopp wants several additions for next season despite the absence of European football at Anfield.
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