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Sadio Mane has been linked with a $190 million move from Liverpool to Real Madrid.

Mane, 28, has been Liverpool’s star attacker this season and has 16 goals in all competitions after an incredible start to the campaign.

Multiple reports state that Real Madrid are willing to pay close to $200 million for Mane this summer and although Liverpool do not want to sell their Senegalese star, it could be key in signing Kylian Mbappe.

Jurgen Klopp has previously stated that Liverpool could not afford to sign Mbappe, 21, from Paris Saint-Germain but if they sell Mane, they’d probably need to spend $250 million (an extra $60 million) to replace him with Mbappe. The French superstar is certainly keen on Liverpool, which helps.

As for Real’s interest in Mane, that dates back by at least a few years as Zinedine Zidane is a huge fan and there’s no doubt the lure of the Santiago Bernabeu is stronger with Zizou in charge.

If Liverpool go on to win the 2019-20 Premier League title, as they are certain to do once the season resumes, is that a good time for Klopp and Liverpool to cash in on certain players to rebuild their squad? Just like they did in selling Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona for $200 million in January 2018, that allowed them to buy Alisson and Virgil van Dijk to significantly upgrade their defensive unit.

Would selling Mane allow them to bring in Mbappe and maybe even improve their central midfield area?

Given Mane’s incredible form since arriving from Southampton in the summer of 2016 for $40 million — he has scored 59 goals in 118 Premier League appearances — it would be very tough for Klopp to sell him. His pace and trickery perfectly compliments Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino in Liverpool’s front three and breaking up that trio would be a very brave move.

That said, Liverpool and Klopp were critcized for letting Coutinho leave at the peak of his value and that worked out pretty well.

As harsh as it sounds on Mane, selling him to Real this summer in order to sign Mbappe would be the smart play here.