Liverpool

Liverpool

Premier League • England

Exit fears grow as transfer guru reveals lackadaisical Liverpool stance over star man’s contract talks

Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Divock Origi, Liverpool celeb during Champions League game v AC Milan at San Siro

Liverpool are seemingly gearing up for the potential sale of Sadio Mane after a trusted source claimed they are still to open contract talks with the forward.

The triumvirate of Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Mane will go down in Liverpool folklore. The trio fired the Reds to their sixth European crown in 2019, though the best was still to come. That’s with all three playing starring roles as Liverpool ended their 30-year wait to be crowned champions of England the year after.

However, all three stars will be over 30 by the time next season begins. What’s more, the signings of Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz have hinted the Reds are looking to the future.

Firmino, Salah and Mane are all out of contract in the summer of 2023. Liverpool reportedly retain hope Salah will commit his long-term future at Anfield. Of the trio, the Egyptian is the one whose impact continues to grow with his form this season better than ever.

Indeed, talks over his future remain ongoing. And while no agreement is yet reached, he is the one Liverpool seemingly want to keep.

As such, Liverpool’s owners don’t appear in any particular hurry to tie down Mane.

Indeed, trusted transfer guru Fabrizio Romano admits Liverpool are yet to even open talks with the Senegalese winger.

And it seems the last deal he signed, back in September 2018, might well be the last of his Anfield career.

Romano, as per Anfield Watch, has revealed the very latest on the situation.

And while he isn’t ruling out Mane being offered a new deal, he makes it crystal clear where Liverpool’s priorities lie.

Salah the priority for Liverpool

“While the negotiations with Mohamed Salah and his agent are still underway with Liverpool, who have more and more urgency in wanting to reach a definitive agreement, concrete negotiations with Sadio Mane have not yet started,” Romano said.

“The forward has just one year left to run on his current deal come the end of the season. Liverpool will have to carefully evaluate the management of the budget on the contracts for both him and Salah. And not forgetting Roberto Firmino too.

“The priority within the club is to resolve Salah’s situation as soon as possible. But Mane and Firmino are also awaiting the final proposals from Liverpool.

“There is no need to specify it, but Jurgen Klopp’s opinion is very clear on the topic of Salah. He is a world-class player, a star that Liverpool must try in every way to keep even for the future of the club.

“Klopp is in no way involved in the negotiation of contracts and in the wages of the players. He observes situations with the utmost respect, but his opinion is always important.

“And there is no doubt that Salah remains a decisive player in the strategies of Klopp and the Liverpool board. The question is purely economic.”

Real Madrid continue to monitor Sadio Mane

According to a recent report, Real Madrid are looking to give Liverpool a difficult decision to make over Mane.

Real Madrid interested in Sadio Mane on cut price deal

Real Madrid interested in Sadio Mane on cut price deal

Liverpool may be forced to sell Sadio Mane this summer with Real Madrid interested in signing Senegal international

Via TheHardTackle, it’s stated Real are ‘keen’ on signing the Senegalese at some point in the next 16 months.

Their initial plan had been to target Mane when he potentially becomes a free agent in 2023. If they are able to sign one or both of Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland this summer, they will reportedly stick to that timeframe.

However, if they’re unable to make a major splash this year, they could reportedly bring forward their Mane plan by 12 months. That would manifest itself in the form of a bid to sign the Liverpool forward rather than waiting for free agency.

If such an offer were tabled – and should a new deal remain unsigned – it’ll present Liverpool with an intriguing decision.

Diaz could conceivably be seen as the successor to Mane and is already on the books. At 30, and with 12 months left, the time may well be right to sell Mane this summer.

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