Sadio Mane transfer: Liverpool want replacement signed before allowing Senegal forward to leave

The No10 has been a key figure under Jurgen Klopp, winning every trophy in England during his time at Anfield

Richard Jolly
Senior Football Correspondent
Sunday 29 May 2022 16:17 BST
Comments
(Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Liverpool will only sell Sadio Mane if they can first recruit a replacement and would want more than €30 million (£25.5m) to let the Senegalese forward leave this summer.

Bayern Munich are interested in Mane, who has one year left on his contract at Anfield and is yet to agree a new deal.

The 30-year-old had promised to provide an announcement on his future after the Champions League final but, as Liverpool rushed to leave the Stade de France, did not, amid suggestions that he wants to leave.

Jurgen Klopp has often said that players who want to leave Liverpool will be allowed to providing they give the club warning so they can plan but the FA Cup and Carabao Cup winners are also determined to ensure Mane does not depart for a cut-price fee, with a mooted price of €30m to go to the German champions deemed insufficient.

While he could leave on a free transfer next year, if a new deal is not agreed, Mane has established himself among the leading wingers in world football since joining Liverpool from Southampton in 2016 and has proved a prolific striker in the last two months of this season.

The former RB Salzburg player, who struck the post in Saturday’s Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid, has scored 120 goals in 269 games for Liverpool, a still more impressive total as it does not include penalties. He struck 23 times for his club this season, including nine in his last 14 appearances of the campaign, as well as scoring the winning spot kicks as Senegal won the African Cup of Nations and qualified for the World Cup.

While Liverpool have a ready-made replacement for Mane on the left wing, the position he long occupied, with Luis Diaz excelling since joining in January, the task of finding another forward is made harder as the Senegalese has proved he can play in all three positions in their front line.

Liverpool are already set to lose one attacker this season, with Divock Origi leaving when his contract expires. The Belgian will sign for AC Milan.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in