Reds attentions turn to Southampton star after Gotze deal collapses
Liverpool are thought to be considering a £25million bid for Southampton’s Sadio Mane this summer.
It’s thought that Mane is a new target for the Reds after their pursuit of Bayern Munich’s Mario Gotze failed.
Mane is also expected to be a target for Spurs and Manchester United, but it’s thought Liverpool are leading the race, with manager Jurgen Klopp wanting players who will fit in with his intense pressing style of play.
Liverpool had been confident of a deal for Bayern’s Gotze before he changed agents and declared this week that he intended to fight for his place at Bayern under their new coach, Carlo Ancelotti.
Götze has only 12 months remaining on his contract at the Allianz Arena, however, and Bayern’s chief executive, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, has suggested the player’s U-turn was intended to remove speculation over his future before the European Championships.
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.
By Ben Kelly – @benkelly_10