'The worst £30m ever...' - Pundit slams Liverpool and Klopp for major transfer error

Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has slammed Liverpool for selling one of their key players last summer, and branded the transfer fee as 'the worst £30m ever'.

The Reds have been struggling all season and find themselves in 10th place, with a slim chance of qualifying for next season's Champions League.

Many people have been trying to pinpoint the reason that Jurgen Klopp's side have slumped this term, with one being the departure of forward Mane last summer.

The Senegal superstar moved to Bayern Munich for £27.5m - and it could see Liverpool net £35m after add-ons.

It was a small fee for such an incredible player, but with his contract only having a year left the club didn't want to risk losing him for nothing.

However, Arsenal legend turned pundit Paul Merson believes the Reds should have kept him for another season because he would have made a significant difference.

Speaking on Soccer Saturday, he said: "It was the worst £30m ever. Honestly, you’d have been better off keeping him for another year and letting him go for free.

"He’d give enough to the club for him to go free, anyway, for them. 100% [he would have made a significant difference]. People have short memories."

Huge loss for Liverpool

Whatever your opinion on his sale, there's no denying that Liverpool have been a worse team going forward this season without Mane.

They may have replaced him with young promising forwards Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo, whilst injuries to Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota have cost them, but the Reds were always going to feel the effects of his departure.

In 269 appearances for Liverpool, he scored 120 goals, and has been a key part of the club's success under Klopp.

Whilst Mane wanted a new challenge and it was inevitable he was eventually going to leave, the Reds could lose out on even more money if they fail to finish in the top four this season.

It's not the first time that Merson has warned them about the 'mistake' they have made by selling him either.

Back in October, he said: "I've said it from day one, in my opinion, selling Sadio Mane was the worst business ever."