Transfer expert: Mane isn't Real Madrid target because they have no money

Liverpool forward Sadio Mane is not of interest to Real Madrid despite establishing himself as the Reds’ most potent attacker this season.

Mane has scored 11 goals since the turn of the year to become Liverpool's top scorer alongside Mohamed Salah with 20 goals in all competitions.

The Senegalese has netted in the last seven league games in which the side has scored, marking a tremendous purple patch under Jurgen Klopp.

The peak of his recent run was the brace against Bayern Munich in the second-leg of their last-16 Champions League tie - one of the finest away performances by an English club in the competition.

With those two goals on club football's biggest stage, rumours that Mane was garnering interest from abroad naturally intensified.

Real Madrid, buoyed by the return of manager Zinedine Zidane, are looking to restore their mojo after going cold on the Galacticos recruitment process in recent seasons, and have been linked with a summer move for Mane in recent weeks.

The transfer expert Balague, who regularly gets transfer tip-offs from clubs in Spain, has spoken out about the rumour, though.

“[Is Sadio Mane a Real Madrid target?] No,” he said on his YouTube channel.

“Their intention is to get a striker, but there's no money at the moment.”

Real signed promising centre-back Eder Militao from Porto for £43m last week, with the 21-year-old joining in the summer.

Just days into his post, the signing reflects how club president Florentino Perez is willing to back the legendary Frenchman in the transfer market.

And Balague added that Los Blancos are more concerned with shoring up the back and ageing midfield, than they are in attack.

“They want, as well, a centre-back, a couple of midfielders,” Balague continued.

“But Zidane wants to see who responds to him in the next couple of months.”