27 Aug 2020 19:27:06
Players come and go but losing Mane would be an extremely hard pill to swallow due to a few things. Messi, even if for two seasons will make Man City significantly stronger and for me Mane is the forward I would least like to see depart. Who would we replace him with? Now I can name who I would feel will soften the blow but in all fairness are unrealistic due to the money that would be involved so can probably strike them out.

1) Mpappe - Wages, transfer fee and him wanting Real Madrid makes that a no go.
2) Haaland but Dortmund don't need to sell, transfer fee that would involve and the fact we would need to change tactics to accommodate makes that a no go.
3) Sancho, yes has potential but for me we won't be getting the goal return Mane provides and Premier League is a tougher more astute league to that in Germany. Sancho would only work if we also bring in a striker that can make up the goals with a return of 20+ goals in the league because Sancho will most likely provide the assist numbers. These are all ifs and buts in a very very unlikely scenario. There is no one that I can think of like for like who plays in Mane's position, who is attainable that can slot in right away and provide the numbers Mane provides.

Now, some might jump on my back but I think moving to Barcelona might interest Mane. Barcelona and Real Madrid is a big pull for most players but especially for South American and African players. He could be sold on the idea he would be the main man spearheading their revamp and the future not to mention wages, weather, lifestyle etc. All considered makes me worried this might go somewhere, especially when Ed2 has said Barcelona want him and have the money to afford him. If Mane were to leave I would rather take straight cash and more than the quoted €120 and not have their cast offs.

1.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 19:50:15
Mane has won the prem and champions League with us, he's not from the UK or lived here for a huge amount of time.
So he's achieved a lot here, has no reason to be attached to us, may like the idea of playing in a new league, may want to move to a new city, and may have the opportunity to play for an iconic club regardless of the blip that they are in. It's a shame but it would make perfect sense if Mane wanted to go to Barcelona!

2.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 20:30:25
I Don't see mane leaving. Barcelona cannot afford him anyway, they are even more skint than we are. Also with their past transfer mistakes, I don't see them spending over a hundred million on someone so close to thirty, he's our best player, and in my eyes irreplaceable.

{Ed002's Note - No, Barcelona will be able to afford him.}

3.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 20:47:55
With the Messi money. Really sounds like you believe it has a good chance if happening Ed sadly.

{Ed002's Note - No, I have simply explained what has happened.}

4.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 20:54:03
Barca have so much collateral in unwanted players and wages that they will save.
Please not Dembele though.
Werner and Kai may have softened the blow, should Mane leave, but would they hit the ground running?
Could see them buying someone like Harvey Barnes plus one other in this case, but as Ed says, whoever it is is going to be a step down from Mane.
Mane has to be worth 200m + .

5.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 21:02:12
Might be a case of 1 world class player out, and 3 at the level / potential of Mane and Salah when they joined. What position does the highly rated Lyon player play in?

6.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 21:06:08
I'm going to go ahead and not meltdown with worry over this. Mane will be here next year.

7.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 21:08:10
Harvey Barnes would be another Andy Carroll moment. I’d hope we wouldn’t be so foolish to waste money like that.

8.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 21:56:53
I know nowadays you can't keep an unhappy player but. With the current financial restrictions, I'd rather we signed no other players this season than sold Mane.
We need to keep these 3 together as they are effective as a trio and less so on their own.

9.) 28 Aug 2020
28 Aug 2020 03:21:58
I think Mane has stepped up his game over the past 2 seasons and he's reached a point where many fans feel that he's better than Salah. I'm one of them. I think his overall contribution has better value than what Salah offers. So, if we had to give up one of the front 3, I would sacrifice Salah. But if the fans can see that Mane offers more, other clubs and their scouts would see the same thing also.

It would be a pity if Mane left but he has repeatedly said that he's happy at Liverpool. Players can change their minds anytime and I hope if he does leave, he'll leave in a dignified manner.

Personally, I think he'll stay for another season 'at least'. Leaving now to go to a sinking ship doesn't sound like the best idea. He's 28 now and why would he want to be part of a team that has reached a new low and it could take years to rebuild their confidence and start to win things again. With Messi gone, other star players could also leave.

10.) 28 Aug 2020
28 Aug 2020 02:47:56
Ed002 - Would the purchase of Mane by Barcelona hinge on the sale of Messi? Or would they be able to afford Mane while keeping Messi?

{Ed002's Note - It is perfectly clear in the text.}

11.) 28 Aug 2020
28 Aug 2020 11:23:48
I'll play Devil's Advocate here. If you were Mané, and you were scoring an equal number of goals as your strike partner (Salah) the past two seasons, and yet you were earning only roughly half his salary, why would you stay?

Really hope he stays and LFC sorts out imbalances.

12.) 28 Aug 2020
28 Aug 2020 12:35:09
Mane is very unlikely to leave this window. There is a rebuild coming for sure and I suspect fsg will look to sell high profile players like Mane when there is still high value. I highly doubt it will be this window however. I'm preparing mentally now to lose one or 2 big names next summer.

13.) 28 Aug 2020
28 Aug 2020 12:36:00
Has to be Mbappe if Mane was to go.