Are we looking at yet another huge transfer blunder from Liverpool?

The annual summer transfer window simply wouldn’t feel the same without Liverpool splashing out on yet another risky signing who could very well serve only to disappoint in largely underwhelming circumstances throughout the course of next season. Sadio Mane is not a bad player with any relevant stretch of the imagination, far from it in-fact – but does he really represent a worthy £34 million asset in the cold light of day? The jury seemingly remains out for now…

 

Like the string of equally hyped big-name signings before him down at Anfield – from the initial £35 million gamble on Newcastle’s Andy Carroll all the way back in 2011, to a more recent blunder involving Christian Benteke signing from Aston Villa for a somewhat ridiculous fee in the region of £30 million just last summer – Sadio Mane could very well end up just another wasted talent who ultimately fails to make the grade at Liverpool on the back of his substantially inflated transfer fee, as well as a largely over-hyped reputation within the grand scheme of things.

 

But then again, perhaps Mane is in-fact just the right kind of player Reds fans have been calling out for this whole time. Jurgen Klopp certainly seems like a man who clearly knows what he is doing when it comes to working the transfer market in an effective and bountiful manner, but have the Reds hierarchy simply over-stepped the mark once again this time around? We shall have to wait and see…

 

Liverpool are going to have spent over 55 million pounds on Mane and Wijnaldum. Poor value.

— Dean Elsmore (@deane87) 21 July 2016

 

Pumped to see if Mane turns out to be a flop like every other Southampton player who leaves for Liverpool

— Brandon Polisky (@TheRealPopoBP) 29 June 2016

 

Without wanting to put this particular argument to bed almost instantaneously, let’s face it – Sadio Mane simply doesn’t really come close to representing a worthy £34 million player, regardless of just how impressive and partially effective the Senegalese front-man has indeed proved at Southampton in recent season. It’s a notion that may serve to disrupt the 24-year-old during his upcoming spell on Merseyside, for when players arrive at high profile clubs on the back of such ambitious transfer valuations, they usually fail to live up to the hype for a whole manner of pressure related factors.

 

Sadio Mane certainly knows what it takes to score goals among the Premier League however. When it comes to hurting his opposing defences on the break with a direct style of play and a keen eye for goal inside the final third, this is one player who has definitely impressed at St. Mary’s over the past few Premier League campaigns. Yet does the Senegalese international represent someone who plays well every single game without fail whilst never going missing out on the pitch? Absolutely not…

 

Mane’s proir consistency issues could potentially halt his progress at Liverpool rather dramatically it must be said, for when the Reds have previously spent big on similarly inconsistent first team stars in the past, the continued string of results have ultimately seen the Merseyside club slowly lose their status as one of the most dominant sides in England – a notion that honestly doesn’t look close to returning any time soon, even with Jurgen Klopp now calling the shots from the dug-out.

 

So then, whilst it does admittedly seem somewhat unfair to cast several shades of doubt over Sadio Mane before the former Southampton favourite has even been handed a chance to show what he is all about in front of the Anfield faithful, £34 million still seems rather steep with all things fairly considered – and as Mane is arguably little more than a decent little player on his day – it remains truly difficult to envisage this deal coming up trumps for all parties involved next season.