Liverpool Prepare For Sadio Mane's Departure As Jurgen Klopp Contacts The Striker’s Ideal Replacement: Report

Liverpool FC reportedly have begun talks with Premier League opponents, Wolves, in regards to the signing of striker Adama Traore.

It is also understood that Liverpool may have backed out from Timo Werner’s deal because they do not want to match his release clause of $61 million at RB Leipzig. While the German club does not want to negotiate the price, The Reds have instead decided to drop the idea of bringing Werner to Anfield, who had been their top target ahead of the summer transfer window.

According to a report in TodoFichajes, Liverpool are also preparing the departure of their star striker Sadio Mane, who, along with Mohamed Salah, has been the club’s main provider of goals for the last two seasons. Mane, who finished fourth in the Ballon d’Or list last time behind the likes of Lionel Messi, Virgil van Dijk, and Cristiano Ronaldo, is expected to leave Anfield at the end of the ongoing 2019-20 season.

Mane, who is into his fourth season at Liverpool, has scored 77 goals in as many as 161 appearances for the Reds. He has already scored 18 goals this season in 38 matches and has helped Liverpool to remain on the top of the table. When Premier League will resume in June, after a long break due to the coronavirus pandemic, Mane and Co will be just two wins away from helping Liverpool lift their first league title in 30 years.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has identified Wolves forward Traore as an ideal replacement for Mane for his quick pace. With six goals in this campaign, the Spanish striker, who once reckoned he could defeat Usain Bolt, is playing his career’s best season. Having joined Wolves ahead of the 2018-19 season, Traore has admitted on several occasions in the last few months that he is open to offers this summer and would move from Wolves if a big club comes knocking his door.

The report has further stated that the Liverpool boss has personally telephoned Traore regarding a possible move to Anfield this summer. Traore, who is the product of Barca’s youth academy La Masia, was signed by Wolves on a five-year contract for an undisclosed fee, and which is why his transfer fee remains unknown.