Fabrizio Romano confirms Sadio Mane to Dortmund rumour is absolute rubbish
Here we (don't) go!
We’ve all seen the good, the bad, the ugly, and the downright untrue when it comes to transfer rumours.
Some speculation reeks from a mile off, while the rest invites a scratch of the head and all the dangers of accepting what appears to be a vaguely plausible possibility.
Yesterday, one such possibility reared its ugly head after TV2 Danmark boldly (and, evidently, incorrectly) claimed that Borussia Dortmund had launched a €70m bid Liverpool’s way for underperforming star Sadio Mane.
It has, fortunately, since been refuted by Bundesliga journalist Chris Williams, with renowned Sky Sports reporter Fabrizio Romano confirming the veracity of his colleague’s statement.
The news will undoubtedly inspire sighs of relief across the fanbase, whilst inviting suggestive shrugs and fond looks over the North Sea in the direction of Jurgen Klopp’s former charges from others.
Erling Haaland and the heavily Manchester United-linked Jadon Sancho await in North Rhine-Westphalia, with at least one of the highly-rated pair expected to make a switch to the Premier League.
In fact, continental Europe will very much be a focal battleground in the next few weeks - despite concerns over the financial albatross that is the ongoing global pandemic weighing many clubs down - as sides explore the option of bidding for the next global superstars.
With it having been made expressly clear that Liverpool will not pursue the likes of Kylian Mbappe and co. (apparently regardless of whether or not Jurgen Klopp’s men qualify for the Champions League), unless we sell off one of our prestigious forwards, we’d have to cast doubt over the likelihood of such a move occurring.
But, what if - and that’s an if of cosmic, ginormous proportions - we were to consider doing the unprecedented?
We’re no longer the selling club of yesteryear, and as such don’t have to worry about the big boys coming over to our figurative square of the beach to kick over our sandcastle and run off with our favourite spade.
As Mo Salah has made clear in prior interviews, extending the Egyptian’s stay at Anfield (much as will likely be the case for our No.10) remains very much in our hands.
Given the season the former Roma star has had, despite all the ‘difficulties’ (to put it mildly) that have fallen our way, it would be a ludicrous decision to not hand him better terms.
So, we move to the subject of TV2 Danmark’s speculation: Sadio Mane.
Let’s make one thing clear from the off: €70m (roughly £60m) is an absolute joke for a player of the Senegalese’s obvious quality, recent form aside, and we at the Empire of the Kop would personally have no interest in entertaining such a bid, or any bid for that matter.
Okay… that was two things but they’re both points we feel strongly about.
Putting aside sentimental attachment for just one moment, however, in the interests of the squad and Liverpool’s continued success on a global, as well as domestic, scale, would it be in our interest to part ways with the ex-Southampton ace? Obviously for a considerably larger fee.
It’s a tough question to consider, and one we’re not sure we’re even comfortable giving the time of day, but as the player approaches his 30s, one has to consider the next step of the club’s evolution.