"A key factor": Klopp signing a new deal could convince £72m superstar to make U-Turn, David Ornstein reports

Liverpool fans are still celebrating Jurgen Klopp's fresh contract renewal and so it hasn't dawned on many what kind of impact it could have on future dealings.

It's difficult to keep track of things as a Liverpool supporter right now as the good news keeps on coming. I'm certainly not about to start complaining either.

Klopp signing a contract until 2026 is about as good as it gets and yet that was followed by the Reds reaching their third Champions League final in five years.

Yet, while the good news keeps on coming and while I'll happily keep on being the bearer of good news, there are a number of contract issues for FSG to resolve over the next year and a bit.

Mohamed Salah's contract standoff with the Americans has been highly publicised on this page and on your other favourite fan sites but, as per usual, Sadio Mane is often relegated to the back pages so to speak.

Yet, both he and Roberto Firmino are also out of contract in 2023 and it's going to be very interesting to see what is done about it.

While the Brazilian has battled with injuries and may not be at the heights he once was, his 11 goals and 4 assists this season proves he's not finished at this level even if Liverpool don't decide to renew his terms beyond the 2022/23 season.

Mane, however, has shown that he is still an elite forward and is one of the most clutch players in Europe as he showcased against Villarreal by scoring in another Champions League semi-final.

All in all, Mane has 21 goals and 3 assists for Liverpool this season as well as 3 goals at AFCON for Senegal.

In his last 6 games, the former Saints star has scored 5 goals and assisted 1. His recent form has been vitally important to Liverpool's quadruple dream.

Speaking on the latest Athletic Football Podcast episode, David Ornstein reported that Jurgen Klopp's new contract could be a factor in convincing the £72million-rated forward to stay at the club and sign a new deal.

Ornstein said: "You’ve got the likes of Sadio Mane, who’s out of contract in the summer of 2023, Roberto Firmino in 2023, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in 2023, James Milner this coming summer.

"And for them to hear that Jurgen Klopp is going to be remaining in charge for longer is a key factor."

Mane is at a point in his career where he is no longer as athletic as he once was and Luis Diaz's impact for the Reds on the wing highlights how important it was to get a younger, faster, more agile winger in.

It's not a criticism of Mane at all either - it's a natural progression in his career that he would lose some of the speed and reaction time that made him one of the most feared forwards in Europe.

That said, however, his movement, intelligence, experience and finishing aren't qualities that magically degenerate but rather, they're qualities that only stand to improve in the latter stages of an attacker's career.

Liverpool are reaping the benefits of having a player like Mane rekindling his career as a false nine where he is still able to counter-press and wreak havoc among the lines.

Come on Sadio, sign another deal.