According to a recent transfer report, new Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has immediately instructed Todd Boehly to sign Sadio Mane as his first move this summer.
Is Mane’s season going well?
Between 2016 and 2022, the 31-year-old experienced six unforgettable years at Liverpool, winning every trophy imaginable, including the Champions League and Premier League. But he chose to swap the Reds for Bayern Munich last summer in order to take on a new challenge.
Although many anticipated Mane to be a success at the Bundesliga’s heavyweights, his time there has fallen short thus far due to injuries and disciplinary issues. The sensational Senegalese player has only scored seven goals in 22 league games, and after a recent loss to Manchester City, he was suspended and fined for a fight with teammate Leroy Sane.
In this situation, Chelsea enters the picture because it appears that Bayern would prefer that Mane leave this summer.
Mane might join Chelsea this summer.
Ahead of his impending appointment as Blues manager, Pochettino is reportedly “throwing his weight behind a summer deal” for the former Liverpool speedster. The Argentine is a “big fan” of the player he faced in the 2019 Champions League final while managing Tottenham, and it is thought that £30m could be enough to secure their man.
The legendary Senegalese player, who transitioned into a more central position in the latter stages of his time at Anfield, will be Chelsea’s “first attempt at signing a new striker this summer.”
Mane has a proven track record as one of Europe’s top wide attackers over the past five years or so; Jurgen Klopp has referred to him as “world-class” in the past; however, it is debatable as to whether his peak has since passed. Even last season for Liverpool, he wasn’t always the force he used to be because he was 31 and has lost the lightning turn of pace he once had.
Pochettino can be trusted to bring in the right players for his system during the transfer window, but Chelsea would be smart to consider younger options as well as someone who has been a dedicated centre forward for longer than Mane. If a deal were to be made, he could still be an intelligent addition with quality and match-winning skills, but it’s unlikely they’d be bringing in the truly elite player who shone so brightly for Liverpool.
