I saw a change in Sadio Mane's character - it's why he had to be sold by Liverpool

Two years after the departure of iconic winger Sadio Mane, Liverpool are yet to find a suitable replacement. The forward left the club in 2022 for Bayern Munich after scoring 120 goals.

The summer transfer window is ticking away, and new Anfield boss Arne Slot's dealings have been far from smooth. They remain the only Premier League team yet to make a single signing, and their attempts to secure talent have been rebuffed, notably by Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi.

Liverpool reportedly wants to bring in a wide player during this window, but Newcastle's Anthony Gordon proved too expensive. Given the lack of new options, the presence of 32 year old Mane might not be unwelcome at Anfield.

However, his sale was deemed necessary by Reds legend Graeme Souness. The former Liverpool boss felt that Mane lost his spark after winning the Premier League title under Jurgen Klopp in 2020.

Despite having several years of service left to offer the Reds, and possibly Slot, his sale was seen as inevitable, reports the Mirror. When Liverpool lost to Mikel Arteta's Arsenal in 2020, dashing any hopes of Klopp's side reaching the 100-point mark after securing the league, Mane was involved in a scuffle with Gunners defender Rob Holding.

Despite his team's eventual 2-1 defeat, the Senegalese forward emerged from the altercation smiling. This carefree attitude drew criticism from the former manager.

Souness analysed Liverpool's performance on Sky Sport, noting a change in Sadio Mane's demeanour: "A telltale sign Mane's had a bit of a wrestle up with Holding a couple of times. Coming off, Mane has a big smile on his face."

He elaborated on the significance of this observation: "Normal circumstances Mane goes to war with you, he's not smiling at you. He can't wait for the second half to start to get after you again, and that tells you where they are they are in their armchairs."

Souness further commented on the team's fluctuating focus during the match: "I'm not saying they've been in their armchairs from the first minute to the last, but there's been periods in the game where they've drifted."

Reflecting on Mane's trajectory post-pandemic, it was noted that the 2020/21 season was considered the 'worst' of his career. However, he made an impressive comeback the following year, scoring 23 goals across all competitions, with 16 in the league, contributing to Liverpool's FA Cup and League Cup victories.

After leaving Anfield for Bayern Munich, Mane only stayed in Germany for one season before making a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia. There, he joined former Liverpool colleagues Fabinho and Roberto Firmino at Al Nassr, teaming up with Cristiano Ronaldo in the attack.

The report also touched on Luis Diaz's efforts to step into Mane's shoes, showing promise but lacking consistency. It highlighted Liverpool's other attacking options like Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez, and Diogo Jota, who are often played centrally, and mentioned the looming issue of Mohamed Salah's contract expiring next summer.

The departure of the Senegalese star, after winning it all, may have left a void in Liverpool's winger market. The Reds are currently grappling with the challenge of finding a long-term replacement for the irreplaceable Mane - a task that remains frustratingly unresolved.