Andoni Iraola’s answer to Sadio Mane could be on the way to Liverpool

There are very few Premier League attackers in the present day who have been able to match the levels produced by Sadio Mané during his six years at Liverpool.

The Senegalese forward arrived as an unknown quantity to many supporters in 2016, but he had cemented his place in the club’s history by his departure in 2022.

He netted 120 goals in his 269 appearances on Merseyside, subsequently sitting 14th in the club’s all-time goalscoring charts after forming a deadly trio with Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.

New boss Andoni Iraola will undoubtedly wish he could call upon a player of the attacker’s quality, but it’s safe to say the club have desperately failed to replace the 34-year-old in recent years.

How Liverpool have failed to replace Sadio Mane

Landing a direct replacement for Mane was always going to be a tough ask for the Liverpool hierarchy, but such a task has proved tougher than first imagined in the last four years.

Luis Diaz arrived six months before the winger’s subsequent departure, with the Colombian seemingly being the perfect player to fill the void left by the Senegalese international.

Despite netting 30 goals in his two full seasons as the Reds’ number one left-winger, he was prematurely sold to Bayern Munich – a move which has seen the 29-year-old reach another level in his career.

Cody Gakpo has since assumed the responsibility of starting on the left-side of the frontline, but it’s a role which has proved to be too big of an ask for the 27-year-old.

The Dutch star only managed to net nine goals across 52 appearances in all competitions last term – but it hasn’t stopped Tottenham Hotspur being credited with a £70m move for his signature.

Iraola’s men should desperately look to cash in on the aforementioned talent this window, which could hand Rio Ngumoha a bigger first-team role next campaign.

The 17-year-old will undoubtedly need time to succeed given his tender age, but his own tally of two goals last season has handed the supporters a reason to be excited about his future at Anfield.

How Liverpool can land a star similar to Mane this summer

Despite the impact of the aforementioned trio at Anfield, none have quite filled the void left by Mane, which has left new boss Iraola with the responsibility of landing a player of the winger’s calibre.

Ibrahim Mbaye has recently been mentioned as one transfer target for the Reds, but competition could come from the likes of Manchester United for the PSG star’s signature.

REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

He’s not the only player from the French outfit to appear on their radar, with Bradley Barcola continuing to be linked with a big-money switch to Merseyside.

Transfer Guru Fabrizio Romano has once again provided the latest on the Reds’ hunt for his signature and stated on YouTube: “The chances to see Bradley Barcola joining Liverpool from Paris Saint-Germain are growing.

“A financial agreement is needed, so let’s wait for the next steps of the negotiations. But direct talks are ongoing and the agreement with the player are okay and he remains the absolute top priority for Liverpool.”

It’s a deal which could cost Iraola’s men a pretty penny this window, but it’s one which could see the club finally land their long-term replacement for Mane.

The Frenchman’s stats from the recent campaign showcase his quality within attacking areas and demonstrate why he has all the tools needed to emulate the Senegalese star’s success at Anfield.

Barcola registered an impressive tally of 1.6 shots on target per 90, which saw him place 46% of his efforts on target in Ligue 1 last season on target.

Both of the aforementioned figures placed him above 93% of players in the division, often doing so after dribbling past a defender and cutting inside onto his favoured right foot.

REUTERS/Vincent Carchietta

Such an asset is what made Mane a fan-favourite during his time on Merseyside, with the French star able to emulate his success off the left-flank upon any move.

The PSG attacker subsequently managed to complete 1.9 successful dribbles per 90 last term, which also saw him better 86% of players in his position across Europe.

His ability to glide past the opposition with ease also highlights his similarity to the former Reds star, who often saw him find the back of the net or tee up a teammate.

Barcola also showcased he’s capable of doing just that, with the 23-year-old netting 11 goals and creating 1.9 chances per 90 within his 29 appearances in Ligue 1 – which has seen Emmanuel Adebayor label the forward as “world-class.”

It’s no secret that Liverpool have made the youngster their number one target all summer long, but now it’s crucial that the hierarchy pull out all the stops to get a deal over the line.

Whilst he will cost a pretty penny, he’s a proven yet highly exciting talent who could easily surpass Mane’s achievements at Anfield in the years ahead upon any move.