Tottenham Hotspur came close to signing attacker Sadio Mane before he joined Liverpool, according to The Athletic journalist Jack Pitt-Brooke.
Speaking on ‘The View From The Lane’ podcast, the reporter revealed that Spurs came close to securing the Senegal international from Southampton, before he made the move to Anfield.
“Wilfried Zaha, they tried to sign him in 2016; they made a real lowball offer that annoyed Steve Parish,” said Pitt-Brooke.
“At that point, Spurs needed one more really explosive final third player.
“If they signed Zaha, I think he would’ve been fantastic.
“The other forward they looked at in 2016 and they nearly got him I think, was Sadio Mane – who has obviously turned out to be an unbelievably good footballer.”
This move obviously failed to come to fruition, and Mane instead joined the Reds in June 2016 in a deal worth £34m.
Mane could have joined Spurs before Liverpool
In hindsight, what a relief this must have been for Liverpool.
During his six-year tenure at the club, Mane went on to make 269 appearances – during which he amassed 120 goals and 48 assists.
He became a staple in Jurgen Klopp’s side, forming Europe’s most formidable front-three alongside Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.
Without the former Saints winger, the Reds would never have been anywhere near successful as they were, as he made the team tick when most needed.
Therefore, it was a huge shame to see him leave and join Bayern Munich last summer.
Mane will go down as a Liverpool legend – and as one of the most important players of the Klopp era.
Thank goodness he didn’t join Tottenham!