Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp set to launch audacious £30m summer bid to sign Southampton star Sadio Mane ahead of Man United
Kop chief leapfrogs new Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho as frantic race to sign versatile Senegalese forward heats up
LIVERPOOL manager Jurgen Klopp is ready to buy Sadio Mane in a £30million deal.
Klopp wants the pacy Southampton striker to be his main summer signing and is close to agreeing a fee.
The Kop chief moved ahead of Manchester United in the race as new Old Trafford boss Jose Mourinho is not as convinced by Mane as his club’s scouts.
Liverpool are ready to pay around £25m plus extras for the Senegalese star who is keen to join.
And if Mane, 24, does arrive at Anfield, Klopp will be left with a massive array of firepower for next season.
The move would put fresh pressure on England striker Daniel Sturridge for a start — and also crank the heat up on the likes of Danny Ings.
However, Klopp is happy for them all to battle it out for game time, knowing Mane would be an exciting new option to fit perfectly with his plans to make Liverpool a force again.
Mane scored 15 goals in all competitions last season and would also give Klopp’s Reds more width in attack.
Southampton have already lost a number of players to Liverpool over the years including Adam Lallana, Nathaniel Clyne and Dejan Lovren, and Mane looks set to follow.