Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has identified Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr as the ‘ideal replacement’ for Sadio Mane, according to stunning reports in Spain.
Mane has been an instrumental part of Klopp’s attacking line at Liverpool, but the Senegalese winger’s long-term future at Anfield remains uncertain.
The 29-year-old Liverpool star is out of contract in the summer of 2023 and has been subject to transfer speculation linking him with Madrid.
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However, Klopp faces the possibility of losing both Mane and Madrid-linked Mohamed Salah, with the latter also out of contract in 2023.
According to Defensa Central, the Reds boss ‘wants’ to bring Vinicius to Anfield.
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The Spanish publication added that Klopp sees the 21-year-old Brazilian winger as the ‘ideal replacement’ for Mane should the Liverpool star leave Anfield.
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However, Liverpool face a challenging task in prying Vinicius away from Los Blancos, with Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti considering him a crucial first-team player.
Vinicius, who arrived from Flamengo in 2018, is currently under contract with Madrid until 2024 and has been linked with Manchester United in recent weeks.
However, it was reported last month that Los Blancos are preparing to offer the Brazil international a six-year deal and want to insert a staggering £940m release clause into his new contract.
Speaking to TNT Sports’ Esporte Interativo in November, Vinicius claimed he is “very calm” about his contract situation and hinted at his desire to stay at Madrid.
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“They [Real Madrid] haven't said anything to me,” he said. “I'm very calm because there's still a lot of time left.
“Of course I want to renew. Of course I want to stay here for a long time, but I'm very calm about it.
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“The contract I currently have is the one I had when I was 16 years old. It doesn't matter when I'm going to renew or how much I'm going to earn, what matters is the satisfaction of being at the best club in the world.”
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Klopp will face a huge blow in Liverpool’s Premier League title race going into January, with Mane, Salah and Naby Keita all set to feature at the Africa Cup of Nations.
AFCON 2021, which was pushed back due to the coronavirus pandemic, will be hosted in Cameroon and will run from January to February 2022.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Jurgen Klopp, Sadio Mane, Liverpool, Premier League, England, Real Madrid, Spain, La Liga, Football, Vinicius Jr