Real Madrid identify Liverpool forward as Bale replacement
A report from France has claimed that Real Madrid are preparing for the departures of Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez, with Sadio Mane touted as a replacement.
Bale and James arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu in big-money transfers, but have failed to live up to their reputation in Spain.
James never really became first choice for Madrid, and spent two years on loan at Bayern Munich. The Bavarians chose not to make the deal permanent, and the Colombian returned to the Los Blancos last summer.
However, he’s played only 4 matches in the league this season, with breakout star Federico Valverde severely limiting his game time. His departure in the upcoming transfer windows looks inevitable.
Welsh superstar Bale has scored some very important goals for Madrid, and played a crucial role in their recent Champions League triumphs. But injuries have stopped him from truly hitting his potential.
With youngsters like Rodrygo and Vinicius impressing, and with the arrival of Eden Hazard from Chelsea, Bale has made only 8 league appearances.
Zinedine Zidane is hunting for a marquee player that can replace the duo if they leave next summer, with Sadio Mane top of the wish list. Initial contact with the player’s representatives have apparently already been made.
The Senegal forward first broke into the spotlight with Southampton in the Premier League. His performances didn’t go unnoticed, as Jurgen Klopp brought him to Liverpool for £34 million in 2016.
The 27-year-old, under the tutelage of Klopp, has developed into one of the best forwards in world football. His pace, dribbling, finishing and positioning make him a nightmare for defenses to deal with.
His goalscoring output has also improved with every progressing season – he won the 2018/19 Premier League Golden Boot with 22 goals.
Mane will certainly not come cheap for Real. He’s sure to command a fee in excess of £150 million, but that won’t be the major stumbling block for Florentino Perez. Liverpool are now European champions, and if they manage to win the league title this season, they’ll be under no pressure to sell one of their best players.
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Finding a replacement will also be a monumental task for the Reds. While Real will almost certainly make an attempt to sign him, its hard to see Mane leaving for anything less than a world record fee.