While Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has already made three additions to his squad this summer, bringing in Joel Matip, Marko Grujic and Loris Karius, the signing of Southampton attacker Sadio Mane for a reported £34m fee looks his most significant piece of business in the summer transfer window so far.
The Senegal international scored 11 Premier League goals last season for Saints and, despite interest from other clubs, was keen to sign with the Reds largely in part to the attraction of working with former Borussia Dortmund boss Klopp:
“I knew Liverpool were interested in me, I had some [other] opportunities, but I think for me this is the right club, the right coach and the right moment to change… He [Klopp] said he wanted me to come to play for Liverpool. I didn’t even have to ask myself, I said straight away ‘yes, I am interested’ because I know Liverpool. I am convinced Liverpool are the right club for me with the right coach.”
Klopp, meanwhile, was equally enthused and admitted to the club’s official website that he’s been on Mane’s trail for some time:
“I have followed Sadio for a lot of years since his impressive performances in the Olympics in 2012, and then watched his development in Austria and in his time at Southampton. Since I came here I have spoken to the staff a lot about him and have always felt he could be a very good signing for us. He has a lot of quality, works hard and has a very good goalscoring record. When I spoke to him I could tell that he was passionate about joining the club and playing for our fantastic fans. I think they will be just as excited about seeing him put on a Liverpool shirt as I am. It is great that we have managed to sign him so he can work with us from the first day of pre-season.”
The History
Mane started his footballing education at Académie Génération Foot, a Senegalese football academy, before joining French side Metz in 2011. He made his professional debut for the Ligue 2 side as a substitute against Bastia in January 2012, and was handed 19 league outings in total during the 2011/12 campaign, scoring just one goal.
Mane’s performances caught the eye of scouts across Europe and Red Bull Salzburg swooped for the attacker’s services in the summer of 2012 for a fee of €4m. During the two seasons he spent with the Austrian outfit, Mane scored 42 goals in all competitions and helped his side to a domestic double during the 2013/14 season.
The Senegal international then made his way to Southampton on September 1, 2014 for a fee of £11.8m. Mane continued to grow as a player during his time at St Mary’s and famously notched the fastest ever Premier League hat-trick in just two minutes and 56 seconds during a 6-1 victory over Aston Villa in May 2015. He ended his first season with Saints with 13 goals and nine assists in 40 matches in all competitions, and bettered that record last term, totaling 15 goals and nine assists from 43 appearances.
The 24-year-old made his international debut against Morocco in May 2012 and has since played 34 times for Senegal, scoring 10 goals, and also featured in the 2012 Olympics for his national side, who exited the tournament at the quarter-final stage.
The Prospects
The addition of Mane to what was already a potent looking Liverpool forward line should only make Klopp’s side an even more dangerous attacking unit next season.
The Senegalese international offers plenty of versatility, being able to operate in both wide positions and centrally, and is just as effective in either a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation – the two systems that Klopp favoured last term.
Crucially, Mane’s arrival will bring a much-needed injection of pace to the Reds’ attack, with players such as Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana more adept at creating chances for others rather than making clever runs off the ball and offering a direct threat on the counter attack.
There will certainly be plenty of competition for places at Anfield, with Roberto Firmino and James Milner other contenders for the attacking midfield positions alongside Coutinho and Lallana, while one of Daniel Sturridge or Divock Origi could be utilised out wide, particularly in the 4-3-3 system.
Despite Klopp’s wealth of options, the smart money is on Coutinho, Firmino and Mane lining up behind a lone striker, with the trio set for an intriguing battle for our Fantasy attentions in the centre of the park.
All three are likely to come in at around 8.5 to 9.0 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) next season. Fantasy managers will be spoilt for choice from the Reds midfield. then, although with Firmino leading the way for goal conversion rates last term with 15.9%, compared to 12.8% for Mane and 7.2% for Coutinho, it could be the former Hoffenheim player who holds the slightest of edges. As already mentioned in our Great Expectations article on Firmino, he averaged 5.8 points per appearance from the point of Klopp’s arrival last season.
Coutinho, meanwhile, fired more attempts than any midfielder in 2015/16, whilst Mane’s underlying numbers are also impressive – the new boy was second to only Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez for both shots inside the area and penalty box touches last season.
Liverpool’s lack of European action should also favour their chief protagonists and ensure there’s no repeat of last season’s final few months, where Klopp’s rotation policy saw many players’ domestic minutes rationed.
It’s worth noting, though, that Mane will miss at least four Premier League matches in January and February due to Senegal’s involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Looking at the fixture list, Liverpool’s tricky start to the season could be a deterrent to would-be investors. The Reds open up with a difficult trip to the Emirates, while they also have to travel to Tottenham and Chelsea during the opening five Gameweeks.
There have also been reports that their home match against Burnley in Gameweek 2 could be switched to Turf Moor to allow the redevelopment of the main stand at Anfield to be completed, so while they managed to record impressive victories on the road against Chelsea and Man City last season, the prospect of having just one home clash during the opening five Gameweeks, at home to champions Leicester, would limit the appeal of Liverpool Fantasy assets.
Mane did show during his time with Southampton an ability to produce on the big occasion, though, registering attacking returns against Man United, Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool last term, and ended the season with four double-digit hauls during the final eight Gameweeks.
Since he has been in the Premier League, the Senegal wide man has shown in flashes his potential as an explosive midfield option for FPL bosses, and with the demands Klopp is likely to place on the 24-year-old, it could be that Mane is able to take his game to the next level on Merseyside.
He could be a player to keep an eye on during the opening fixtures of the season, then, with investment more likely from Gameweek 6 onwards when the Reds’ schedule (HUL, swa, MUN, WBA, cpl, WAT) eases, and we have the chance to assess his impact on the Liverpool midfield.
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