How do you solve a problem like Sadio Mane?

It is certainly a question that has nothing to do with his ability – the African Footballer of the Year is currently Liverpool’s second-highest goalscorer this season – but there will be a point when he is no longer able to perform at the highest level, and then who will they turn to?

Finding a talent to replace him will be far easier said than done if they don’t start preparing early.

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Fortunately, that plan could already be in motion. According to Het Nieuwsblad (via Sport Witness), the Reds are eyeing Anderlecht’s Jeremy Doku and have been monitoring his progress for a while. Whilst many Premier League and Bundesliga sides are said to be interested in the 17-year-old, only Liverpool are specifically mentioned. A previous article from the same outlet (via Sport Witness) even said that Jurgen Klopp sees “a potential successor to Sadio Mane” in him – albeit those words came from his father.

Doku has done well so far this campaign, scoring four goals and providing three assists even at his his tender age. He has bags of pace, like Mane, and plays as a left-winger. Just as it is for the 27-year-old, dribbling is a skill of the teenager’s – Mane has averaged 1.9 per game in the Premier League so far this term.

The prodigy also comes from good stock – the Anderlecht academy. The Belgian outfit have produced plenty of quality players down the years, many of whom have made their mark on the Premier League, as well. Romelu Lukaku, for example, scored 41 goals in 98 games for them before moving to Chelsea. Although he failed to make the grade at Stamford Bridge, he still scored 113 times in 252 English top-tier matches, whilst he is also Belgium’s all-time top scorer as well.

Vincent Kompany is another who started out at Anderlecht. He made 119 appearances himself before moving to Manchester City via Hamburg. He would lead the Citizens to four league titles – he was the captain for all of them – before moving back to where it all started last year.

Others, such as Youri Tielemans and Leander Dendoncker, are now established Premier League footballers, clearly showing that Doku has been in good hands up until now.

Liverpool could do a lot worse than the youngster and, when Mane finally is in need of replacing, he could be the man to do it.

Meanwhile, Liverpool have the chance to banish the ghosts of Premier League past against Crystal Palace.