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Zinedine Zidane 'makes Sadio Mane top Real Madrid transfer target'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 25 March 2019

Zidane 'makes Sadio Mane top Madrid target'

Returning Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane reportedly makes in-form Liverpool attacker Sadio Mane the club's number one transfer target this summer.

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has reportedly identified Liverpool attacker Sadio Mane as the club's number one transfer target this summer.

Madrid were understood to be interested in the Senegal international during Zidane's previous spell in charge of the club, and some reports even suggested that they had reached an agreement with Mane before Zidane's exit scuppered the deal.

Mane has since been in fine goalscoring form for the Reds, netting 20 in all competitions this season and 11 in his last 11 outings, and Zidane's recent return to Madrid has led them to revive their interest.

The Spanish giants are planning a huge summer overhaul of their squad following a disappointing season, and Marca reports that Mane is top of their list of targets to begin that revamp.

Liverpool would be reluctant to sell one of their key players, though, and would likely demand a sizeable fee before they even consider any offers having tied Mane down to a new five-year deal in November.

Madrid still see the 26-year-old as a more realistic target than Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe, though, and will attempt to test Liverpool's resolve this summer.