When you spend at least £30million on anything, you can expect people to start asking questions.
And Liverpool’s imminent capture of Southampton attacker Sadio Mane has prompted plenty of chatter among supporters.
Reds boss Jurgen Klopp is a known long-timer admirer of the Senegal international having scouted him during his days in charge at Borussia Dortmund.
However, it’s likely many Reds followers, mindful of the recent mixed record of signing players from the South Coast club, will be wary of going overboard.
Here we assess the chief issues.
This is a lot of money, isn’t it?
In a word, yes. Only twice before have Liverpool spent more on a player, and given those were Andy Carroll and Christian Benteke, there’s a strong argument the Reds are yet to convince when forced to spend top dollar on a player.
For some context, at present Manchester United have spent in excess of £30m on only four players – Angel Di Maria, Juan Mata, Anthony Martial and Dimitar Berbatov.
Chelsea, too, have surpassed that landmark on four occasions, while Arsenal’s recent signing of Grant Xhaka is only their third £30m-plus signing.
Even moneybags Manchester City have smashed through the barrier on just six occasions, although expect that number to increase this summer.
Why do Liverpool want to buy Mane?
Despite finding their shooting boots during the second half of the season, Klopp has for some time accepted Liverpool require greater impetus going forward.
Indeed, the meek second-half showing in the Europa League final against Sevilla brought into sharp focus those concerns.
Mane can provide the pace the Reds at times lacked to get in behind defences from wide areas, and his work ethic tallies with Klopp’s demands on his team.
He’s also accustomed to playing in a pressing side, has an ability to break between the lines and, significantly, can add firepower from midfield.
Of course, it may also be that the Reds boss is countering any significant summer departures, with Paris Saint-Germain persistent in their interest of Philippe Coutinho.
Where’s he going to play?
The expensive outlay suggests Mane will be a regular starter, although the experience of Benteke this season illustrates that isn’t always the case.
With 11 goals and seven assists in 37 Premier League games last season – including three strikes in two games against his prospective new employers – Mane has solid credentials and, importantly, Premier League experience.
Certainly, there’ll be no need for much of a bedding-in period.
The versatile right-footed Mane can play in all three positions behind the main striker, and forged his reputation on the left flank when winning the Austrian title with Red Bull Salzburg, where he first came to Klopp’s attention.
Intriguingly, though, his recent successes at Southampton have come when playing on the opposite flank.
What does it mean for the other players?
There will be a number of Liverpool squad members pondering the impact of Mane’s arrival.
Adam Lallana and Roberto Firmino will now have greater competition for places on the flanks with Klopp, although at times operating with two strikers and on occasion none, favouring a 4-2-3-1 formation.
James Milner, meanwhile, will likely be asked less regularly to fill in on the right flank, while highly-rated Sheyi Ojo can anticipate another spell on loan.
Jordon Ibe could be moved on permanently after failing to make the most of his first-team chances thus far under Klopp, and Mane’s signing could also spell bad news for Lazar Markovic, despite the Reds boss being willing to give the Serbian an opportunity to impress during pre-season after an indifferent season-long loan at Fenerbahce.
However, as previously stated, it could be Klopp is preparing for life without Coutinho.
Any other business?
Well, don’t expect Mane to score many goals in January.
The Senegal international is, injury permitting, expected to be named in his country’s squad for the Africa Cup of Nations, which takes place in Gabon between January 14 and February 7 next year.
And with Joel Matip’s Cameroon having also qualified for the finals, Klopp is poised to be without two of his summer signings for a month in the New Year.
