Liverpool are looking at the possibility of signing Southampton’s £25million forward Sadio Mane.
Jurgen Klopp has been desperate to reinforce his squad as he prepares for his first full season at Anfield, and the Senegalese has been identified as a major target.
The path from St Mary’s to Anfield is one well-trodden in recent years, with Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren and Nathaniel Clyne all swapping the south coast for Merseyside since 2014. And the 24-year-old looks set to follow his former team-mates to last season’s Europa League finalists.
Mane joined the Saints on deadline day in September 2014 in an £11.8m move from Red Bull Salzburg after two impressive seasons in the Austrian Bundesliga.
The Senegal star has scored nine goals in 31 appearances for his national side, began his career at French side Metz before joining Salzburg in the summer of 2012.
He has been a stand-out performer under Ronald Koeman at Southampton and has scored 25 goals in 75 appearances in his two seasons in the Premier League.
In May 2015, he scored the quickest hat-trick in the history of the Premier League, in only two minutes and 56 seconds against Aston Villa.
The Reds are looking to add their fourth signing of the summer already, with the window not opening until July 1.
Klopp has already secured the signature of goalkeeper Loris Karius from Mainz, having captured midfielder Marko Grujic from Red Star Belgrade in December before agreeing the free transfer of Schalke defender Joel Matip. – Daily Mail