Liverpool plan player-plus-cash deal for Southampton forward Sadio Mane

Liverpool are preparing a player-plus-cash deal for Southampton forward Sadio Mane this summer and are willing to send Jordon Ibe the other way in a bid to bring the player to Anfield. The 20-year-old has not been able to convince manager Jurgen Klopp about his potential and is likely to make way for more important signings in the current transfer window.

The Sun reports that Mane is rated at £30m ($43m) and Ibe would want a swap deal so that he can get more game time with the Saints instead of being on the fringes at Anfield. The 20-year-old has been sent on loan moves to Birmingham and Derby where he has thrived but there is still major question marks over his future under Klopp.

Meanwhile, Mane is also being heavily scouted by Manchester United, who under Jose Mourinho are in for some major investment this transfer window. They have already completed the signing of Villareal defender Eric Bailly and are also negotiating a one year deal with PSG striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, whose contract with the cash-rich French club expires this summer.

Mane will add some much needed pace and guile up front for the Reds, who have had to heavily depend on Divock Origi for goals while Christian Benteke was out of favour and Daniel Sturridge struggled to build form following his return from injury. The Senegalese international scored 11 goals and assisted six in the league last season, including a hat-trick against the Reds at the St. Mary's.

However, the Merseyside club are likely to be hampered in their transfer activity by their inability to offer European football to potential recruits. Southampton, on the other hand, have qualified for the Europa League courtesy their sixth place finish in the league, three points ahead of the Reds, who finished in eighth spot.