Liverpool standout in ‘purple patch of his career’ told this summer is ‘perfect’ time to leave
Former Premier League goalkeeper David James has told Sadio Mane that this summer would be the “perfect” time for him to leave Liverpool.
The forward is out of contract at the end of next season and he is attracting interest from Bayern Munich and FC Barcelona.
Mane has been in fantastic form of late. He got on the scoresheet as Liverpool beat Aston Villa 2-1 on Tuesday night.
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The 30-year-old has grabbed 22 goals and four assists from his 48 appearances this term.
The FA Cup is the only domestic trophy he has not lifted during his time at Liverpool. They face Chelsea in the final of that competition on Saturday.
James believes it would “suit his overall career” if Mane left Liverpool to join Bayern Munich:
“I was just looking at his achievements. I think the FA Cup is the only trophy he hasn’t won in England,” James said (quotes via HITC).
“You add the Champions League, the Africa Cup of Nations, then this guy is in the purple patch of his career. I think he is still the record-holder for the quickest hat-trick in the Premier League as well.
“If you have an optimum time where you can make the most of a move, given that he isn’t English then, therefore, he’s a traveller.
“The idea of going to Germany and playing for Bayern Munich would be something that suits his overall career.
“Now is the time to do it for Sadio Mane as much as I know Liverpool fans will be saying ‘no I want him to stay till the end of his career’. If he has a perfect opportunity, then this season will be it.”
“Yes, keep pushing, keep going and try to win as many games as possible,” he told the club’s official site. “We’ve got to recover now as we’ve got another big game at the weekend against a very good side, so the games are coming thick and fast.
“The more it goes on, the more important they are and intense they are. We are using all the squad and I thought the boys that came in were brilliant. Let’s prepare now for a big game on Saturday.
“That’s football and there’s going to be ups and downs in a game. You’ve got to react in the right way. I felt as though we certainly did that (on Tuesday), and, to be honest, the boys have done that for a long period of time.”
