Sadio Mane: Southampton striker set for Liverpool

Sadio Mane: Southampton striker set for Liverpool medical after fee agreed

Sadio Mane scored 15 goals for Southampton last season

Southampton striker Sadio Mane will have a medical at Liverpool on Monday after the clubs agreed a transfer fee in excess of £30m.

The deal, if concluded, would be one of Liverpool's most expensive, rivalling the £32.5m paid for Christian Benteke and £35m for Andy Carroll.

Manager Jurgen Klopp wants to boost his attacking options and made Mane a prime transfer target this summer.

It had been thought the Saints wanted closer to £40m for the Senegalese.

Klopp was impressed by Mane when he scored twice as Southampton came from 2-0 down to beat Liverpool 3-2 at St Mary's on 20 March.

Alongside England striker Daniel Sturridge and Belgium youngster Divock Origi, Mane - who scored 11 goals in 37 Premier League games last season - would add pace and a goalscoring threat.

Liverpool would seek to recoup most of the money they spend on the Mane by selling fellow striker Benteke, who has struggled since his move from Aston Villa in 2015.

Mane is set to tread a well-worn path between Southampton and Liverpool.

Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, Rickie Lambert and Nathaniel Clyne have all moved to Anfield since the summer of 2014.

It would also give Saints - who are without a manager following the departure of Ronald Koeman to Everton - a handsome profit on a player they bought from Salzburg for £10m two years ago.

Southampton have also sold midfield man Victor Wanyama to Tottenham for £11m.

Source - BBC