Liverpool open talks with Sadio Mane over new long-term contract
Liverpool have opened talks with Sadio Mané over a new contract, as Jürgen Klopp moves to tie another of his star players to a longer deal.
Mané is being rewarded with a lucrative extension and Liverpool are confident the Senegal international will join Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino by committing his long-term future to the club.
Signed for £34 million from Southampton in June 2016, Mané has emerged as one of Klopp’s key men and scored 20 goals last season, including a hat-trick against Porto in the Champions League.
He has three years remaining on his current contract but Liverpool have initiated dialogue with Mané’s representative and agreeing a deal should be a formality.
Salah, the Footballer and Player of the Year, signed a new five-year contract in July while Brazil forward Firmino also agreed late last season to commit his future until 2023 to Liverpool.
Klopp, the manager, insists Liverpool’s success in persuading top players to pledge the peak years of their career is a huge sign of progress at Anfield.
“When I have spoken about the mood in the club, it's not only in the stands - we are Liverpool as a team and the boys want to be part of it,” he said. "That's really cool and it's a big achievement for the club because these boys, Bobby Firmino, Mo Salah and Sadio Mané, and a lot of the others as well, could play for pretty much any team in the world.
"That's how it is and a good sign for the club. It is an improved situation that these players don't use us and then go. It's cool but now we all together have to deliver. Sign your contracts but now, go again.”
Unlike last summer, Klopp’s preparations for the Premier League season have been unaffected by speculation around his top players. Last year Barcelona unsettled Liverpool with their pursuit of Philippe Coutinho, who eventually joined the Spanish giants for £142m in January.
The impact of Salah, in particular, has ensured Coutinho’s departure has not been keenly felt by Liverpool, but Klopp still insists replacing the Brazilian was impossible. “You cannot replace Phil Coutinho with exactly the same kind of player. He's Phil Coutinho. He has a specific style of play, tactically an outstanding player, can play as the wing, the 10, the 8 - really great,” he said.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/07/30/liverpool-open-talks-sadio-mane-new-long-term-contract/ [ 此帖被羅力亞在2018-11-23 10:09重新編輯 ]
