Sadio Mane exit edges closer as Bayern Munich fly in for talks

Sadio Mane’s Liverpool exit is edging closer as a delegation from Bayern Munich heads to England today in a renewed effort to finalise his transfer.

Having already rejected two bids for their striker, Liverpool are standing firm on a valuation of at least £40 million.

Bayern’s sporting director Hasan Salihamidžić is leading the negotiations trying to get a deal across the line. Liverpool have not yet received a third bid from the Bundesliga giants, but it is inevitable a fresh offer will be made over the next 24 hours. Mane has already decided he wants the move, and having invested in new striker Darwin Nunez, Liverpool are preparing to cash in at the right price. 

Liverpool will only listen to bids with guarantees they will receive payment in full rather than ambitious add-ons. The last Bayern bid amounting to £30 million included 'unrealistic' financial trigger clauses which would only come into effect if Bayern won successive Champions League finals and Mane was a regular winner of the Ballon d’Or. Bayern will have to significantly reshape their offer to ensure they return to Germany with the contracts signed.

Whatever the immediate outcome of Friday’s talks, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is already planning for next season without Mane. His departure signals the break-up of one of the most feared and productive attacking line-ups in Anfield history, Mane, Mohammed Salah and Roberto Firmino supplying the fireworks in Klopp’s Champions League and Premier League winning team.

It was Mane’s arrival from Southampton in the summer of 2016 - at the time considered a ‘risk’ at £35 million - which was the catalyst for Liverpool qualifying for the Champions League in Klopp’s first full season in charge.

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