Transfer Centre

Steve Nicol warns Liverpool against Sadio Mane sale unless they sign Timo Werner

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 19 March 2020

Former Liverpool midfielder Steve Nicol warns the club against selling Sadio Mane without first securing the signature of RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner.

Former Liverpool midfielder Steve Nicol has warned the club that they cannot afford to sell Sadio Mane without replacing him with Timo Werner.

Mane has arguably been Liverpool's standout player this season, scoring 18 goals and created 12 more in 38 appearances, and that form has seen him linked with a move to Real Madrid.

The Reds' interest in Werner has added fuel to speculation that one of the front three could be on their way out, and Nicol does not think that they can afford to lose any of them unless they have secured the signature of the RB Leipzig striker.

"That's only any good if you bring in Timo Werner," Nicol told ESPN FC after being asked about the prospect of selling Mane.

"Unfortunately there aren't many [players like Werner] around. What if Werner wants to go elsewhere? The way it's being talked about is if it's done. 'Timo Werner says he wants to go, so it's done'.

"Guess what, there was a guy called Kylian Mbappe who told everyone he wanted to go to Real Madrid, he ended up at PSG."

Werner has scored 27 goals and created 12 more in 36 games for Leipzig this season.