During Liverpool’s crucial recent win against West Ham, Sadio Mane played in a new deep-lying central role that proved just how much the Senegalese star still has to offer Jurgen Klopp. There were even shades of what Harry Kane does for Spurs in the work that Mane was carrying out against David Moyes’ men as he dropped deep to collect possession before finding his teammates in advanced positions.
Perhaps most impressive of all was the fact that Mane was still able to score the only goal of the game and in doing so, keep Liverpool on the heels of Manchester City. It should be stressed that the latest football odds do predict a long and arduous battle ahead for Klopp’s men with the Reds priced at 3/1 to win the league despite being within touching distance of Pep Guardiola’s team.
Those odds do go to show how faultless Liverpool will have to be during the run-in but thanks to Mane’s well-taken goal, the club's title hopes remain alive, for now.
Sadio Mané gives Liverpool the lead!
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 5, 2022
The forward reacts quickest to divert Trent Alexander-Arnold's effort past Łukasz Fabiański, and after a VAR review, the goal stands! pic.twitter.com/gQpkZOGgf4
Whatever happens over the next few months with regards to who will eventually be crowned the winners of the Premier League, one thing is for certain and that is Mane’s future will be decided over the summer. As things stand, the winger’s contract expires at the end of June in 2023 and the whispers about the 29-year-old leaving Anfield are getting louder.
If the African Cup of Nations winner is to go then it's likely he will be sold after the 2021/2022 season ends so that Liverpool can recoup some sort of fee for him. At least, the club will be desperately trying to avoid letting Mane leave on a free, which means we’ll either see him sign a new deal or be moved on before the start of next season.
The problem is that it may not be as simple as handing the 29-year-old a new deal and letting the rest take care of itself given that Mane would, to some degree, be given assurances about game time after the club signed Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota. It’s important to keep in mind that Mane is incredibly ambitious and is for all intents and purposes, about to enter the most productive time of his career. To put it plainly, the Sengelase international won’t agree to reduced playing time just to stay at Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp on Luis Diaz:
— Anfield Watch (@AnfieldWatch) March 1, 2022
"He did really well. We need this kind of quality. He did incredibly well. Hopefully it'll stay like this as long as possible." pic.twitter.com/rKpool6QtF
But should this have to be the case given how effective Mane was during the win against West Ham when he took on far more responsibility by dropping deeper? As already touched on, he was also able to score which makes you wonder if Liverpool would potentially be making a costly mistake by allowing him to leave.
It’s very unlikely of course that the Reds will let him join a Premier League rival if they decided to sell him but then again if Mane leaves on a free, they won’t have any say in where he ends up.
This wouldn't be as much of a pressing issue if Mane hadn’t shown such impressive versatility over recent weeks but now that he has, it does feel like the 29-year-old still has a lot left to offer this Liverpool team.
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