Liverpool players are the subject of trade targets by rival clubs and the most notable name likely to exit the English club soon is Sadio Mane. The Senegalese striker has long been wanted at Real Madrid and soon enough he could be joining up with the Spanish giants.
That was the forecast from Momo Sissoko, who once played as a midfielder for the Merseyside club. Sissoko is convinced the 27-year-old Mane will soon exit from the Anfield and make his way to Madrid, adding he is seeing Real boos Zinedine Zidane finally convincing Mane to make the switch.
"I think Sadio Mane is likelier to, because he has the characteristics that Zidane wants - he really rates him. I think Sadio Mane will go to Real Madrid," Metro reported the former Liverpool player as saying.
Sissoko also offered that the Jurgen Klopp side will soon see the disintegration of the strike force that won Liverpool the Champions League title. Aside from Mane, he could see the departure of Mohamed Salah but Sissoko said the Egyptian is unlikely to join the Los Blancos.
The impending departure by Mane and Salah could be explained by Liverpool's success both domestically and in the Champions League. A title on the latter has been secured and when the Premier League games resume, it is expected that Klopp will win his first PL crown.
So for both Mane and Salah, the need to search for new challenges will fuel the want to play elsewhere, according to Sissoko, and per Fox Sports.
He added: "I don't know if Salah will continue at Liverpool. But if he left, his departure could be good for the team."
While Salah has been an important member of the Liverpool roster, the club will easily find a way to fill the void that he would leave, Sissoko offered.
"Liverpool are very smart and would know how to replace him," he explained.
Mane indeed has been performing the most consistent in the Liverpool side. He has started in 24 Premier League games and his numbers to date speak volumes: 14 goals and seven assists. Such a sterling performance only drew the attention of elite clubs in Europe.
In Real, for instance, Mane might be attracted to join up as the club is supposedly beefing up the goalscoring capability. Sissoko said that in addition to the Liverpool star, Zidane is thought to be recruiting Paul Pogba from Manchester United.
"I know that Zidane wants him at Real Madrid ... In my opinion, Pogba should find a team that makes him feel important so he can get back to his best," Sissoko said.
