Glen Johnson on Sadio Mané: “Sign him up to a new deal or sell him”
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Rumours from Germany last week have suggested that Sadio Mané could be on the verge of leaving Liverpool this summer, with Bayern Munich the most likely destination. Former Liverpool right-back Glen Johnson believes that the Senegalese international may actually be on the move. Glen spoke to BettingOdds.com regarding the futures of Mané, Declan Rice and Jarrod Bowen, as well as potential new contracts for Chelsea duo Mason Mount and Reece James.
Sadio Mané is linked with a move to Bayern Munich at present. Bayern could respectively lose Robert Lewandowski this summer and considering that Mané’s contract expires in 2023, do you believe he’s likely to depart Liverpool this summer?
“I think a departure this summer is a possibility if his contract expires next summer. From Liverpool’s point of view, you can’t allow your best players to leave for free. It doesn’t make any sense. They either need to sign him up to a new deal or sell him. Bayern will be rubbing their hands together if they can get him for relatively cheap since he only has a short time left on his contract.
“I believe Mané would be a success in the Bundesliga, because let’s face it, it’s nowhere near as strong as the Premier League. Of course, he’d be going to a giant team, but the games will be a lot easier. It would probably help his body and give him a bit of longevity in terms of a few more years.”
Real Madrid are reportedly put off by the £60 million price tag of Liverpool target and Monaco midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni. This has provided a boost in your former club’s efforts to sign the Frenchmen. In your opinion should Liverpool be targeting an all-round midfielder such as him?
“Yeah, we’ve said it all before - all the top clubs go to town on each other to get the biggest new star, and they all need bigger squads. Liverpool certainly need another midfielder, whether that’s Aurelien Tchouameni or Jude Bellingham. But I think if you’ve got the opportunity to buy someone at the top of their game at the moment, for relatively sensible money, then I think you’ve got to go and try and do the deal. Because if you don’t, then he’s going to go somewhere else. He would go to another rival.”
Newly promoted Fulham are targeting a summer move for Liverpool’s Joe Gomez. Good move for the player? Or do you believe he should be setting his sights a little higher?
“He needs to play. He’s a London lad as well so it could fit. But he needs to stay fit and it will be tough to come into a team that will struggle. He certainly wouldn’t have it as easy as he has it at Liverpool and now he’s going to have to put his name on the line and prove to everyone that he’s as good as what people think.”
Manchester United reportedly have a free run at signing Declan Rice this summer, with his other suitors prioritising other areas of their squad. Do you believe the move could appeal to the player and would you advise him going there?
“You can see why Manchester United would want him. That’s a no brainer because everybody wants him. I don’t think that he will end up at Manchester United and no disrespect to Manchester United because it’s a fantastic club and I’m sure they’ll come back and fight for titles in the coming years but City and Liverpool are absolutely miles ahead of anyone at the moment and I’m sure they’d want Declan as well. Why would you go to a team that isn't going to compete for the league next season? If he goes to Liverpool or City then he’s going to win something next season. I can’t believe that Manchester United would be his first pick.
“On a personal level for him, we know how close he is to Mason Mount, so if Mason Mount commits to a new long-term deal then we know how much of a pull Chelsea will be to Declan. It’s another fantastic club and despite the fact they won’t win the league next season, that move may be a lot more appealing to him than Manchester United, if Manchester City or Liverpool don’t get the deal done.”
Jarrod Bowen is supposedly on Erik ten Hag’s transfer shortlist this summer. Do you believe Manchester United would be right to target a player of Bowen’s profile?
“In recent times Manchester United have signed loads of players in positions they don’t need. Jarrod’s a great player and you can see why they’d want him, but they’ve already got Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford. They’ve already got a load of players in Bowen’s position that have already been pretty expensive. It just doesn’t make sense to me.”
It’s reported that new Chelsea owner Todd Boehly already wants to tie down Reece James and Mason Mount to new contracts at the club. How much a relief will that be for Chelsea fans to hear? And as they’re both two academy products, can you actually see either player ever leaving the Bridge?
“It’s great that they’re trying to sign two of their best players down to new deals. Will they stay there their whole career? We don’t know. It doesn’t happen often. Hopefully they do as we know they love the club and as long as they keep performing then there’s no reason for them to go somewhere else. The fans would be buzzing if those two signed new deals.”
N’Golo Kante is being linked with a move away from Chelsea, with Manchester United said to be interested in the midfielder. Would that be a stupid move on your former club’s behalf to let him depart to another Premier League side? Do you think Chelsea have the bodies to cope with Kante’s potential departure?
“I don’t think it’s clever to allow one of your top players to go to a rival team. That doesn’t make any sense to me at all. I don’t think they should let him go anywhere. They should do whatever they can to keep hold of him and if he was to leave then I wouldn’t be letting him go to Manchester United. You can just see how much the fans and his teammates love him.”
West Ham have been linked with a move for Chelsea striker Armando Broja. Does Broja fit the profile of a striker that West Ham need to sign?
“He fits the profile of a striker that West Ham should be looking to sign. He’s been scoring goals in the Premier League and looks like a tidy finisher. They definitely need a natural goalscorer in their squad and if West Ham had an out and out goalscorer in their side this season then that could have made the difference.”
It looks like Raphinha is off to Barcelona this summer according to the Telegraph. You’ve spoken highly about him in the past - which Premier League clubs have missed a trick by not signing the Brazilian?
“If you had asked me six months ago, I’d have probably said Liverpool. But seeing as they signed Diaz, it’s turned out to be a strengthener. Yes, I am a fan of Raphinha, but you would take Diaz instead. Chelsea have got a few players similar that are costing a lot of money and haven’t really struck form yet. Probably Arsenal need him the most.”
Our Thoughts
With Mane having since left Liverpool to join Bayern Munich as the rumours of the time suggested he would, we are looking to what the Reds' future may look like without one of their ever-dependable attacking outlets.
Can the Reds go ahead and compete for the Premier League without the Senegalese star? Find the latest Premier League odds or check our Football Tips to find out how we think Jurgen Klopp's men will fare without the Bavaria-bound forward.
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