Liverpool open talks for EXTRAORDINARY £50m 18-year-old forward | OneFootball

Liverpool made £450m worth of new signings last summer - a spending spree which included plenty of new faces in attack.

We saw Richard Hughes break the British transfer record twice in deals for forwards - first for Florian Wirtz and again for Alexander Isak.

Hugo Ekitike - the pick of Liverpool’s summer signings thus far - also came on board for a hefty fee. But it looks like the Reds’ sporting director isn’t yet done with overhauling the Premier League champions’ frontline.

The ongoing uncertainty around Mohamed Salah means a new winger could be needed on the right side soon. Saudi clubs are again on the trail of the Egyptian King - with space being cleared at Al-Ittihad to accommodate his arrival in summer 2026.

Over on the other side meanwhile fans have grown frustrated with Cody Gakpo and we could see an improvement on the Dutchman sourced in the market.

Liverpool blown away by Mateus Mane

And right now it looks like Liverpool recruiters have got their eyes on relegation candidates Wolves - and their extraordinary 18-year-old attacker Mateus Mane.

The Portugal-born winger only made his first Wolves start in the Premier League on December 27 in a game against Liverpool at Anfield.

But he has already caught the eye with a report in Sports Boom claiming Liverpool scouts have been blown away by what they’ve seen in recent weeks.

Mane has got two goals and two assists in the Premier League from only seven starts - a solid record given his tender years and relative lack of experience.

Wolves want £45m to £50m for Mane

He signed for Wolves from non-league Rochdale back in 2024 and now looks destined to reach the very top.

“Scouts from several top-tier clubs, most notably Manchester United and Liverpool, have been tracking the youngster’s every move for the past month,” the report reads.

“The dossiers compiled during Wolves' recent clashes against West Ham and Everton, where Mané found the back of the net in consecutive games, are said to be filled with "extraordinary" ratings.”

Mane is under contract at Molineux until 2029 - meaning the club are very well protected from a transfer fee perspective.

It looks like Wolves will set a price of between £45m and £50m for Mane - who has played in the England under-18 although his senior international future remains to be decided.

© IMAGO - Mateus Mane Liverpool

Liverpool hold formal discussions over Mane

“Both Manchester United and Liverpool held formal discussions with Wolves, but an asking price in the region of £45–50 million proved prohibitive for the Premier League heavyweights,” the report reads.

No doubt Wolves’ impending relegation will see their asking price drop - although the club have already begun preparing for life in the Championship from a financial perspective by finalising a big-money deal for Jorgen Strand Larsen.

“With Liverpool and Manchester United having already made enquiries through representatives, the summer of 2026 is shaping up to prompt record-breaking transfer attempts for Mané,” the report reads.

Mane is capable of playing either side of attack as well as an attacking midfielder. in attack.