Trevor Sinclair has claimed that Liverpool’s asking price for Sadio Mane is ridiculously cheap.
Speaking to TalkSPORT, Sinclair insisted that the fee in question is an absolute ‘snip’ for the player’s ability.
“I think Mane’s probably the most useful player. Attacking, defending, the way he goes about things,” he said. “He may not score the most goals but he causes absolute mayhem in the opposition final third.
“He’s 30-years-old, if we’re talking about Harry Kane at 29 being £100m, £40m for Sadio Mane for me is a snip. He’s a great player, he gives everything every game, touch wood he never gets injured, he turns up in big games. I’m not surprised Bayern Munich are trying to get him cheap, but Liverpool won’t have it.”
Had Liverpool sold Mane two or three years ago, they surely would have been asking for nine figures. Given the situation around his contract, his age and his desire to leave, it just isn’t realistic anymore.
Ball in Bayern’s court for Mane
In an ideal world, the negotiations with Bayern for Mane would have been much smoother.
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It doesn’t do anyone any good to keep the situation dragging on. In reality though, Liverpool have every right to demand a fair price on what is still one of their most important players.
Only three members of Jurgen Klopp’s squad played more for Liverpool than Mane did this season. Only Mohamed Salah scored more.
Perhaps he does have time against him, but he is still one of the first names on the teamsheet for The Reds. To let him go for a song would be reckless.
The ball is very much in Bayern’s court in that respect. As Sinclair says, £40m or so is not an unreasonable amount. Should they decide to look elsewhere, they won’t find a player like Mane for anything like that price.
They aren’t a club who are particularly used to having to spend big on players, which is maybe what’s driving the low-ball offers. £40m would actually make him Bayern’s third biggest signing ever, behind only Lucas Hernandez and Leroy Sane.
It may seem high to them now. But whatever the German champions end up paying for the 30-year-old, they’ll be getting a bargain.