Transfer News: Liverpool and Real Madrid linked with Sadio Mane and Marco Asensio swap

As per a report by Spanish publication Don Balon (h/t Liverpool Echo) Liverpool and Real Madrid are linked with an ‘outlandish’ swap between Marco Asensio and Sadio Mane.

The Reds remain staunch in their approach to keep the Senegalese at Anfield. The Spaniard, on the other hand, has found life hard at Santiago Bernabeu.

Injuries and poor runs of form have prevented Asensio from cementing himself as a regular in the Madrid starting XI. And signing the 25-year-old as a direct replacement for Mane would not make sense.

Sadio Mane is a top European winger and has proven it time and again. The Liverpool faithful would hate to see the back of him so soon.

Mane for Asensio?

Instead of swapping players, the Reds should be focused on adding to their squad. Liverpool had a highly underwhelming season just after winning the Premier League title.

And Jurgen Klopp would know that Liverpool need quality across the pitch in order to take down teams like Manchester City and Chelsea. Attack is one area where this logic applies.

With AFCON beginning in January 2022, fans would be wondering if the Reds have enough in their arsenal to make up for Mane and Mohamed Salah’s absence. Yes, Diogo Jota is there, but the Reds need more.

Divock Origi and Xherdan Shaqiri were rarely utilized by Klopp while Takumi Minamino was on loan at Southampton. In light of this, a quality attacker would boost the club’s chances of landing trophies.

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But that should not come at the cost of letting first-team players like Mane leave. It remains to be seen if the Reds add to their attacking depth, but Salah and Mane seem too important to be let go so easily.