You know the bloke who has stepped into breach to fill the scoring void and ensure Liverpool’s hopes of glory both home and abroad remain intact since Mohamed Salah hit an alarming dry patch in front of goal of late.
Mane – who scored against Real Madrid in last season’s Champions League final in Kiev – is believed to have been on the Spanish giants’ radar for several months now.
However, ever since Zinedine Zidane made a dramatic return to the Bernabeu hot seat earlier this month, speculation has been building that the French football legend wants the Reds’ Senegalese ace to be one of his high-profile targets this summer to reinvigorate an under-performing side.
Today, Mane and Zidane have made front page news in Spain with Marca declaring: “Zidane asks for Mane.”
Liverpool remain confident of holding on to Mane despite what could become an intense pursuit from Madrid this summer.
The player himself – who has netted 11 goals in his last 11 outings – is believed to be settled at Anfield, the team are challenging for major honours both in the Premier League and Champions League (which is more than can be said of Real this season) and while the prospect of becoming a ‘Galactico’ is always tempting for any player, Mane only signed a new lucrative long-term contract tying him down to the Reds until 2023 earlier this season.