Jürgen Klopp has already signed Liverpool’s replacement for Sadio Mane if Barcelona bids

Jürgen Klopp has already signed a ready-made replacement for Sadio Mane in the £ 45million summer Diogo Jota acquisition.

That is the opinion of former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock, who believes Jota will be a regular front runner for the Reds in a few years.

Mane has drawn the attention of Barcelona and Real Madrid in recent years but has remained a ubiquitous part of Liverpool’s top three spots.

Warnock doesn’t think the Reds are necessarily in danger of losing Mane in the next transfer window, but he does believe Klopp has his replacement for such a situation.

Warnock told Stadium Astro: “Sadio Mane is just 28 years old. So when he’s 32, is there anyone who comes in with a ridiculous offer that you can’t refuse?

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“I don’t think that would happen to Mane. He loved his time in Liverpool.

“If you want to be the best and be a challenge for titles, you have to have the depth of the squad – that’s what [Diogo] Jota brings to this front.

“It allows Klopp to rest at least one or two of the players with quality to replace them.”

Warnock added: “If you have the caliber of Roberto Firmino, [Mohamed] Salah and Mane, you learn from them in training every day.

“There aren’t many players in Liverpool who haven’t improved.

“I expect him to improve completely. I think in four years he will be the person to replace Sadio Mane.

“He knew he was coming to Liverpool to replace and he had to force his way.

“He is more than happy to do that and has a lot of time on his side. He already looks like a valuable player to Liverpool.”

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