True to expectations, Paris Saint-Germain is making it hard for rival clubs to raid the French giants' roster, specifically on plans by Real Madrid to acquire Kylian Mbappe. As the Parisians continue to hold off attempts to bring the young striker to Spain, Los Blancos are said to be considering an alternative, identified as Liverpool star Sadio Mane.
Media reports in France indicated that Real boss Zinedine Zidane has grown frustrated on the pace of negotiations with PSG that skipping Mbappe is now an option. It is understood that if getting the French superstar out of Paris will prove impossible, then Zidane is ready to set his sight on the Senegalese winger.
Described by One Football as Real's player-in-waiting, Mbappe has been vocal on his dream of joining up with the Bernabeu side but realizing that dream is not easy. The World Cup winner is tied up with PSG until 2022 and the French club does not intend to let him go. For the Parisians, it will be a difficult mission for Zidane.
That being the case, Real will have to look elsewhere to beef up the club's forward line. As noted by the same report, Luka Jovic is deemed underperforming and could be released next season while Karim Benzema is already 32. There must be a solid replacement to arrive soon and Zidane is targeting Mane if Mbappe will continue to be elusive.
Zidane, however, will need to deal with a few hurdles to win for Real the Liverpool striker. First, the French boss must convince Reds manager Jurgen Klopp to sign off Mane and it would take a lot of convincing. That's because Mane is considered a valued element in the Liverpool style of play.
It is the same reason why the Senegalese is rated £131 million, a high price that Real must pay to get a hold of Mane in the summer.
A window, however, exists for Zidane to make Mane a Galactico. According to The Sun, the Liverpool ace was hurt by Klopp's decision to throw the support of the club on the 2019 Ballon d'Or bid of Reds defender Virgil Van Dijk. It might be an opportunity for Real to convince Mane to make the switch and do it soon.
Another advantage of going for the Liverpool star is that he would be ready to play by next season. In Mbappe's case, Real will need to wait until next summer for the young attacker to be released.
Outside of the plan to sign up any of Mane and Mbappe, it is believed Real would want to bring in Paul Pogba from Manchester United and Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund, indicating of Zidane's desire to upgrade his club's attacking capability.
