Former Liverpool midfielder Salif Diao has urged the club to extend Sadio Mane’s contract as soon as possible.
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, Diao said The Reds would be making ‘a mistake’ to hold on any longer in negotiations.
“He is a top-class player, and I think it would be a mistake for the club to keep waiting for this negotiation,” said Diao.
“If the club had a clear understanding of what they want from him, they need to start discussions. We are seeing the same case with Mbappe at PSG, a great player like that ending up at the end of the season going for free.”
That isn’t strictly true in Mane’s case. But we know where his countryman is coming from. Should Liverpool keep Mane this summer and fail to agree a new deal, he could leave for nothing in 2023.
Diao has stated his desire to see the Senegal great continue at the club where he played 61 times between 2002 and 2005.
“I want him to stay in Liverpool but, again, those are discussions between the club and agents,” said Diao. “Probably they have started those discussions, but I would love to see him stay.”
Losing a legend
If Liverpool do end up losing Sadio Mane either this summer, or next summer, they will struggle to replicate his output.
Mane’s goals may pale in comparison to Mohamed Salah’s numbers on the other side. But he still has an incredible record for a player who is not necessarily a striker.
Liverpool’s number 10 has got into double figures in Premier League goals in each of his six seasons for The Reds. For three seasons in a row between 2017 and 2020 he scored more than 20 in all competitions.
Mane’s stats become all the more impressive when you consider that not a single one of his 111 goals for Liverpool have been from the penalty spot.
The attention may be on what Liverpool stand to lose if Salah departs the club in the next year or so. However, letting Mane leave at the same time as the Egyptian would be almost as big a blow to the club.
It may be that Liverpool don’t truly appreciate what they have with Mane until he is no longer there.
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