Newcastle have made two first-team ready acquisitions this summer in Sandro Tonali and Harvey Barnes as they prepare for Champions League play, with more expected to follow.
Sadio Mane, a former Liverpool attacker, is one high-profile player that is available this summer. Mane departed Liverpool last summer for Bayern Munich in a deal of £27.4 million, with the possibility of a further £35 million in add-ons.
Mane scored 12 goals in 38 appearances for Bayern in all competitions as the club won the Bundesliga in 2022-23.
Following an offer from Public Investment Fund-owned Al Nassr, the Senegalese international is on the verge of joining the Saudi Pro League.
But former Newcastle loan striker Louis Saha believes Mane is exactly the type of player the club ‘needs’ to take them to the next level.
“Newcastle United needs world-class players now, despite their amazing season, but they need players who have won titles and know how to win trophies,” Saha said.
“That’s the club’s next step, and players like Sadio Mane can definitely help and provide inspiration to the team to take them to the next level.
“It’s necessary to have players like Mane’s calibre to help them get through competitions. Newcastle United need to be careful because clubs like Leicester City did not bring in the right characters and look where they ended up.
“A signing like Mane would be bringing in the right character who can help win on the biggest stages.”
Last month, Mane was supposedly asked about the possibility of joining Newcastle this summer.
While on international duty with Senegal, the 31-year-old was approached at the team hotel by Conservative peer and Newcastle supporter Martin Callanan.
“Couldn’t resist asking [Mane] about coming to #NUFC next season, His intriguing reply: “Never say never!” said Callanan, who was speaking at the EITI International conference.
Mane scored 120 goals in 269 games for Liverpool, sharing the Premier League golden boot with 22 goals in 2018-19. The forward also has plenty of Champions League experience with Liverpool, which will be useful as United prepares to compete with Europe’s finest once more next season.
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