Key figures and facts

• According to the Guardian, Sadio Mane earns £150,000 per week. Only Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, and Virgil Van Dijk earn more than the forward at Liverpool.
• Mane signed a long-term deal with the club on 22nd November 2018. His current deal runs till 2023.
• According to Transfermarkt, Mane is valued at €120 million – no Liverpool player has a higher valuation.
• James Pearce of The Athletic recently said: “Madrid have been keen on Mane previously but there has been no contact recently. I’d be very surprised if Mane wanted to move on.”

• The Daily Mirror recently stated that the Los Blancos may test the Reds’ resolve with a £140m offer when the summer transfer window re-opens. This is just slightly over the Transfermarkt valuation.
• The report added that Real Madrid are confident that if they bid that much, Mane might be tempted to take up a new challenge as he has already won the Champions League (and most likely the Premier League) with Liverpool.
• Zinedine Zidane is understood to be a huge admirer of the winger, and he has been following the player for two seasons now.
• Zidane has reportedly made his interest in the player clear, and Mane’s representatives are aware of the interest.

What former players, pundits, and coaches have said of the matter

• Mane’s former mentor, Mady Toure: “He has to leave Liverpool now. It’s his last year and he has to leave Liverpool when it’s up to go to Barcelona or Real Madrid.”
• Former West Ham goalkeeper Shaka Hislop: “I still feel that playing for Real Madrid, Real Madrid is still the biggest name in terms of who players want to play for in world football.”
• Ex-Sengalese striker Diomansy Kamara: “Considering his value in the market, considering the quality of the side he’s playing in, there aren’t many other clubs he could go to today to make a major leap. So we have to talk about Real Madrid.”
• Former Liverpool player Mohammed Sissoko: “I think Mane is likelier to (leave Liverpool than Salah) because he has the characteristics that Zidane wants – he really rates him. I think Mane will go to Real Madrid.”

Ever since the Mirror reported that Real Madrid will bid for Mane, more and more pundits and ex-players have started saying that the Senegalese should move to Spain.

A lot of these takes have come during the past month, during which football has been on hold due to the ongoing pandemic. As there is no live-action to look forward to, a lot more people might possibly chime in and keep giving their opinions on this idea.

Therefore, it seems unlikely that the Madrid whispers will be going away any time soon.

However, here’s what we know – Mane has a deal here till 2023, Liverpool are in no need to sell him, and unless and until the player really pushes for a move (which is highly unlikely), no bid of less than £160 million will even be entertained.

The rumours and whispers will keep coming, but the Reds will not fear Madrid’s reported interested as Liverpool right now is as strong as the Los Blancos, if not at an even better position.