Former Liverpool goalkeeper David James has explained why Sadio Mane would benefit from leaving Anfield ‘the sooner the better’.
Mane’s future has been the subject of tentative speculation in recent weeks, following the arrival of Luis Diaz in a £49million deal from Porto.
The 29-year-old recently helped Senegal win the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in their history, and is now back on Merseyside with Liverpool.
Speculation has recently claimed that the likes of Real Madrid or Barcelona could look to sign Mane in the future.
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Mane's current deal with Liverpool is set to run out in 2023, and there is no word yet on whether the club will look to enter contract negotiations with the player.
James, who featured for Liverpool from 1992-1999, believes the time may be nearing for Mane’s time at Anfield to come to an end.
The former goalkeeper has explained why the arrival of Diaz means Liverpool have a ‘replacement’ lined up and a succession plan in place.
“With Mane you’ve got a player who at some point isn’t going to be playing at the levels he once was,” James told GGRecon .
“With the signing of [Luis] Diaz you can see that there’s already a replacement in reserve. If he does have desires to move abroad then sooner would be better than later for him.
“He’s just had success in the AFCON and he’s accomplished what he’s needed to accomplish in the past three or four years.
“He’s pretty much won everything and this year he can add a couple of domestic trophies towards that too. That would be a good signing off for him.
“He’s a legend at Liverpool but, at the same time, Liverpool is a very well run club and they’ll already have a succession plan in place.
“I’m definitely not saying they’d welcome him leaving, but they’d send him off with a fond farewell if he was to move.”
