Liverpool are set to offer an improved contract to their winger Sadio Mane in the coming weeks. According to recent reports in the English media, the Reds are set to reward the Senegal international with a bumper new offer after his heroics in the UEFA Champions League in midweek when he scored a hattrick in the Merseyside club’s dominant 5-0 victory over FC Porto at the Estádio do Dragão. The 25-year-old winger is just two years into his current contract which runs until the summer of 2021.
However, in recognition of his recent contributions and of the fact that the transfer market has significantly moved upwards since he made a switch from Southampton during the summer of 2016, the Senegalese forward is in line for a pay rise. The incredible hike in transfer fees is prompting teams to protect their prized assets in an attempt to keep hold of them. The Reds are eager to keep hold of Mane for the coming years and not let any of their stars leave, despite bagging £143m from the transfer of Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona in January.
Mane has performed really well since arriving at Anfield for £30m from the south coast and his price-tag seems to have skyrocketed in recent weeks, especially following his hat-trick heroics in the Champions League against Porto.
The Reds are currently occupying 3rd place in the Premier League table after securing a comfortable 2-0 victory away at Southampton in the last gameweek. The Merseyside club find themselves just above Chelsea, who are in fifth place with a point separating the two teams at the moment. However, Jurgen Klopp’s side are a staggering 18 points behind league leaders Manchester City.
Keeping hold of their star players next summer will be integral if they are to bridge the gap between themselves and the Manchester clubs going into the future. The retention of Mane’s services would go a long way in helping Jurgen Klopp build a bigger and brighter future as they look to earn some silverware in the near future.
The Senegalese striker has just three years remaining on his current £80,000-a-week contract, so there is no immediate pressure to seal a new deal. However, if Mane commits to a further two years contract extension then he can expect to double his weekly wages and be in line to be amongst the club’s highest earners. Mane has scored 12 goals and provided 7 assists in 28 matches for the Reds this season in all competitions. It remains to be seen whether he ends up committing his long-term future to the club and stay at Anfield for years to come.
