"It will be confirmed.." - Romano's huge Liverpool update will leave supporters gutted - opinion

Liverpool forward Sadio Mane has decided to leave Anfield for a new challenge, with Bayern Munch the leading contenders for his signature.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano tweeted to say that Mane has “decided to leave” following the Champions League final and is ready for a new challenge.

“Sadio Mané has decided to leave Liverpool this summer.

“He’s ready for a new experience after many special years with Reds – it will be confirmed to the club.

“FC Bayern are strong contenders – but it’s still open and not completed as Sadio wanted to wait for the final.”

It is set to be confirmed by the club soon with German side Bayern Munich strong contenders to secure his signature. The news comes after the player said he would give an update on his future after Saturday’s final, in which the Reds lost 1-0.

It was reported recently that Bundesliga champions Bayern were in pole position to sign him, with a fee as little as £25.5m stated due to the fact the 30-year-olds contract is running down.

For Liverpool supporters, this is their worst nightmare come true. Although they knew that one day Mane would depart for pastures new, many won’t have thought it would have come this soon.

He made the move to Merseyside in the summer of 2016 for £34m from Southampton. In many ways he represents the beginning of the Jurgen Klopp revolution that has seen The Reds lift their first ever Premier League title, and appear in three Champions League finals in five years, one of which they won.

His overall record at Anfield is out of this world with 168 direct goal contributions in 269 games. Those are numbers that will be hard for anyone new to repeat, but they’ll have to do all they can to recruit a ready made replacement.

He’s considered one of the