Jurgen Klopp was looking for an attacking midfielder throughout the summer and his search finally ended when Liverpool completed the signing of Sadio Mane for a reported fee of 30 million pounds. Liverpool were heavily linked with Mario Gotze but the deal did not go through. The German stated that he wants to stay at Bayern and fight for a place in the starting eleven. In the past few weeks, Liverpool have also been linked with PSG’s right winger Lucas Moura. Reports suggest that the Brazilian’s performances in Ligue 1 have impressed Jurgen Klopp. Sadio Mane and Lucas Moura, both are exceptionally talented attacking midfielders and here is a comparison between the two.
Sadio Mane had a terrific season at Southampton. He made 37 appearances for the Saints and scored 11 times. He also has 6 assists to his credit which shows that he is a goal scorer as well as a creator of goals. Mane created 41 goal scoring opportunities last season. This fact is an evidence of the Senegalese striker’s ability to play key passes. Mane has an average pass accuracy of 81% of which 60% were forward passes. Mane is extremely pacey and his dribbling skills make him an even threatening attacking midfielder.
Lucas Moura was very good for French champions PSG last season. He made 36 appearances in the league and was a part of PSG’s 13 goals, scoring 9 times and registering 4 assists. Lucas created 57 chances, 16 more than Mane’s 41 and is better at playing through balls and delivering in crosses from the right wing. Lucas Moura has an average pass accuracy rate of 85% which is very impressive. Moura also takes accurate shots from distance and has a shot accuracy rate of 54%.
Coming to their styles of play, Sadio Mane is a very direct sort of attacking midfielder. Also, he is a versatile attacking midfielder and can play equally well on the right and through the centre. Stats show that in 9 appearances as an attacking midfielder in the right wing, Mane has scored 5 goals and provided 2 assists. Playing as a central attacking midfielder, Mane made 18 appearances and scored 2 goals and provided 3 assists. It is clear that Klopp will play him in the right wing as he can make darting runs and can deliver good crosses. He also plays short passes and alongside Coutinho, he will make Liverpool’s right wing very dangerous. Moura’s style of play is similar to Mane’s. The Brazilian also makes darting runs and plays quick short passes. Moura plays only on the right and he delivers in perfect crosses with his strong right foot. But when it comes to pace, Mane is quicker than Moura and has a cutting edge over Moura.
Lucas Moura and Sadio Mane are exceptionally talented footballers. Signing Mane has bolstered Liverpool’s attacking midfield and Mane will be a very vital player for the club next season. On comparison, Sadio Mane seems to be a better option for Liverpool than Lucas Moura. Mane is well experienced with the Premier League and his style of play suits Klopp’s tactics. So Sadio Mane’s signing is the biggest for Klopp so far this summer.
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