Klopp close to clinching Mane signature
Liverpool are closing in on a deal to make Sadio Mane one of the biggest transfers in their history.
Mane is the player Jurgen Klopp has identified as being key to his rebuilding plans and, ideally, would want the Senegal striker on board before pre-season training begins on July 2.
Discussions between Liverpool and Southampton have been going on for much of the past month and it is understood the clubs are getting to the stage where a deal could be agreed.
Southampton, having just seen Ronald Koeman leave to become manager of Everton, do not want to experience another window where their best targets are cherry-picked and initial indications were that they would demand £40million for Mane.
It is likely, though, that a fee in the region of £30million would see Liverpool land Mane, who made a big impression on Klopp when he scored twice and inspired a 3-2 win for Southampton at St Mary’s on March 20.
Liverpool have become well-versed in dealing with Southampton, having signed Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, Rickie Lambert and Nathaniel Clyne in the last two summers.
Southampton’s immediate priority is to find Koeman’s successor and that will have a bearing on when Mane’s future can be finalised.
However, it seems likely that Mane will arrive at Anfield for a fee that has only been surpassed by Andy Carroll’s £35million signing in January 2011 and the £32.5million acquisition of Christian Benteke 12 months ago.
Liverpool have signed three players so far - Cameroon defender Joel Matip, Serbia Under 21 midfielder Marko Grujic and Germany Under 21 goalkeeper Loris Karius - but they are pursuing a number of other targets.
A £7million bid for Leicester defender Ben Chilwell was rejected earlier this week. The Premier League champions are holding out for £10million and Liverpool have identified Hull City’s Andy Robertson as an alternative left back.
Piotr Zielinski, the Poland international, has long been on Klopp’s wanted list to bolster the midfield, while Liverpool are also aggressively pursuing Borussia Monchengladbach’s Mahmoud Dahoud.
Source: Daily Mail
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