For me this isn't about how much they are worth individually, it's about value to the team. Clyne, Wanyama and to an extent Shaw, Lallana, Lambert, Lovren and Schneiderlin were all big losses individually but were playing in positions where finding a replacement or changing things around was do-able (and done).
I feel with Mane that his pace, goal threat and trickery allows players like Davis, Tadic, the two in midifeld and (perhaps to a lesser extent) Long, to have less of a burden of having to score. To put it another way, if Mane was to leave, do I think we could sign a replacement which would allow the team to play in the same way - no. I feel like selling Mane would mean having to find a winger with a goal threat, a number 10 with more goals (but as good at using the ball as Davis), adding goals form the two in midfield and, possibly, a striker with a better strike rate than Long. That is an enormous upheaval from selling just one player.
That could all change in January, next cummer or even next month if we sign a couple of top quality players that make that possible but until then I'd be very reluctant to sell Mane at any cost.
I feel with Mane that his pace, goal threat and trickery allows players like Davis, Tadic, the two in midifeld and (perhaps to a lesser extent) Long, to have less of a burden of having to score. To put it another way, if Mane was to leave, do I think we could sign a replacement which would allow the team to play in the same way - no. I feel like selling Mane would mean having to find a winger with a goal threat, a number 10 with more goals (but as good at using the ball as Davis), adding goals form the two in midfield and, possibly, a striker with a better strike rate than Long. That is an enormous upheaval from selling just one player.
That could all change in January, next cummer or even next month if we sign a couple of top quality players that make that possible but until then I'd be very reluctant to sell Mane at any cost.
