Jurgen Klopp has made it clear to sporting director Michael Edwards which Premier League forward he wants signed in a move that could signal the beginning of the end for a trusted Liverpool forward, according to a report.
Liverpool have been blessed to have Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah at their disposal in recent years. The trio fired Liverpool to Champions League glory in 2019 and ended their 30-year wait for a domestic title 12 months later.
However, come June of next year, each of the trio will be aged 30 or above and time stands still for no man.
The signing of Diogo Jota helped ease the burden in the final third. The Portuguese’s signing was met with initial scepticism, though Jota has taken the step up in class in his stride.
Now, according to Goal (citing a Spanish report), Liverpool are making plans to gradually move on from Mane.
The outlet claims Liverpool are fully aware of the advancing age of their forward stars. And it is Mane that they claim is ‘the most troubling’ of the current stars.
Liverpool had been linked with a series of attacking talents over the summer including Belgian sensation Jeremy Doku and Jota’s international teammate, Pedro Neto.
The pair are named in the article, though they claim Leicester’s Harvey Barnes is the one Klopp wants.
Barnes, 23, possesses an all-action and high intensity style that would fit Klopp’s demands. The right-footer operates primarily on the left wing, and would therefore be a like-for-like alternative to Mane.
Klopp has apparently ‘made it known’ to sporting director Edwards that Barnes is his preferred choice of all the attacking targets on their list.
Barnes only just signed a new contract running to 2025 in August, making any potential move an expensive one. Furthermore, there is no indication the Foxes would be willing to sell.
The Spanish publication Goal cited are known for being on the lighter side of journalistic integrity with regards to transfer news.
As such, and despite the move making sense on many levels, seeing Barnes in a red shirt still appears an ambitious prospect at this stage.
If that means many more years of Mane at Anfield, Liverpool fans will be thrilled. The Senegal marksman has looked back to his best this season and was on the scoresheet again in Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Brighton on Sunday.
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Klopp plotting Pogba steal?
Meanwhile, Klopp is considering stealing Paul Pogba from Manchester United to breathe new life into his Liverpool midfield, according to one journalist.
That’s according to journalist Ekrem Konur. He tweeted that Klopp is thinking about making Pogba a replacement for James Milner or Thiago.
Milner, 35, has been a versatile dream for Klopp in recent years. Whether at left-back or in midfield, he’s been a very reliable option. Thiago, meanwhile, hasn’t set the world alight since linking up with the Merseyside club. He’s been injured for a number of weeks, though is now nearing a return.
And it’s worth noting that Liverpool are also yet to replace Georginio Wijnaldum. He left for PSG with no midfielder coming in this summer.
Pogba may shockingly be the man he wants according to Ekrem Konur. Of course, he would face fierce competition from Real Madrid for the 28-year-old. Additionally, Pogba would appear to be a miserable fit for Klopp’s midfield demands stylistically.
As such, we believe the chances of this one gathering steam are next to nil.
READ MORE: ‘Didn’t like it at all’ – Klopp slams Liverpool stars after noticing big worry in Brighton draw
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