HOW does a team potentially losing Sadio Mane manage to get even better?
Well, signing Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain for £250million might be a good start.
Mbappe has bagged 90 goals in 120 games for PSGCredit: Reuters
And that is exactly what may happen this summer in a big-money Anfield shake-up.
As SunSport revealed on Monday, Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane is desperate to land Liverpool’s Senegalese star.
The Reds could command around £150m for the 28-year-old, who is contracted up to 2023.
It could take as much as £250m to then prise Mbappe away from PSG, with Jurgen Klopp, 52, having insisted that there was “absolutely no chance” that his club could afford the Frenchman in December.
But with the Reds having now teamed up with Nike in a lucrative new kit deal, the eyewatering fee for the 21-year-old, who only has two years left on his contract in Paris, is no longer insurmountable.
And with another couple of additions the Reds, who had been near perfect for around a year prior to the coronavirus pandemic KOing the football calendar, Liverpool could be ready to go again even better than ever next season.
In Alisson, they possess arguably the world’s best goalkeeper.
Pacey full-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson are possibly the two most creative defenders around, having made 12 and seven assists respectively in the Premier League this season.
Virgil van Dijk is widely considered the best centre-back in the world, and the classy Dutchman could be joined in defence by a new recruit in Diego Carlos.
The Sevilla defender has impressed since his summer move from Nantes, with Marca claiming that Liverpool are keen on the commanding Brazilian.
Fabinho has made himself indispensable in the Reds’ engine room, with Klopp then possessing a number of options to partner him with in their midfield trio.
Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner and Naby Keita all represent impressive options – as well as the seemingly outgoing Adam Lallana.
Klopp’s midfield options could be strengthened even further, however, with the Reds interested in 21-year-old Lille starlet Boubakary Soumare.
The rangy midfielder has impressed for the Ligue 1 side, and rejected a £35million January move to Newcastle – as he has his sights set on bigger things.
As for Liverpool’s front three, Klopp has found the perfect formula in Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah flanking Roberto Firmino.
The Reds never quite look as potent when one of these pieces is taken out of their jigsaw – giving them all the more reason to go big if Mane is to depart for the Bernabeu.
The Reds currently possess one of the most feared attacks in EuropeCredit: EPA
Liverpool possess devastating pace, overwhelming teams with the brilliance and creativity of their attacking players – with Firmino often cited as the key man, rather than Salah or Mane.
With the Brazilian often dropping deeper to make the Reds tick, Liverpool’s “wingers” are really just wide strikers – the men expected to score the goals – with Alexander-Arnold and Robertson instead providing the width.
And scoring goals is what Mbappe does better than almost anyone.
The French whizz has scored 90 goals in 120 games for PSG, also laying on 49 assists.
And his pace and trickery would fit right in at Anfield.
Mbappe could swap Neymar for Salah and FirminoCredit: AFP or licensors
While Liverpool were just two games away from winning the Premier League in record-quick time prior to the league’s suspension – a fight on all fronts had eluded them.
A youthful side bowed out of the League Cup to Aston Villa, while they crashed out of the FA Cup and Champions League to Chelsea and Atletico Madrid respectively in March.
If they could pull off this summer masterpiece, this already great team could become even better next year – and for fans of every other club – that truly is a frightening prospect.
Most valuable players in world revealed with Lionel Messi down in EIGHTH as Kylian Mbappe leads list at £189m
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
