Former Southampton and now Liverpool striker Sadio Mane. (Photo : Getty Images)
Liverpool has recently completed the transfer of striker Sadio Mane from fellow English Premier League side Southampton.
The cost of the deal could potentially to rise up to £36 million, according to Caught Offside, which would smash the current Liverpool transfer record of £35 million set when the Reds acquired Andy Carroll from Newcastle United back in January 2011.
BBC Sport initially reported the fee to be at around £34 million, but the Anfield giants could add £2 million more in the end.
"Today is a big day and I am very happy to sign for one of the biggest clubs in Europe," Mane said. "It's a club that has won a lot of trophies and has a big history. Now I am looking forward to meeting all the staff and my teammates and starting the season."
Reds head coach Jürgen Klopp admitted that he had been a long-time fan of Mane since the 24-year-old winger's stint in the 2012 London Olympics with the Senegal national squad.
"Since I came here I have spoken to the staff a lot about him and have always felt he could be a very good signing for us," Klopp said.
And that was exactly what the club did on Tuesday when they agreed to pay the Saints the potential record fee for the Sédhiou, Senegal native.
Aside from breaking the Anfield record, Mane had also become the most expensive African footballer of all time as his transfer topped the £28 million fee disbursed by Manchester City to Swansea City for Ivorian Wilfried Bony in January of last year.
Mane is the fifth player to leave Southampton for Liverpool since 2014 as he followed the footsteps of Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert, Dejan Lovren, and Nathaniel Clyne. Lambert had moved to West Brom last summer, though.
The Senegalese forward will vie for playing time with Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi, Danny Ings, Roberto Firmino, and Christian Benteke in Klopp's lineup, but Benteke is allegedly on his way out of the club this summer so that is one less competition for Mane.
Southampton had also lost defensive midfielder Victor Wanyama to the Tottenham Hotspur a week before Mane's signing. The deal was made after former head coach Ronald Koeman ditched the squad for Everton earlier this month.
