Razeen Gutta
Sadio Mané, who has been at the heart of Liverpool’s rise to the top of European football under manager Jurgen Klopp, is set to leave the club after six years.
The Senagalese winger’s decision to leave the Reds surfaced shortly after the club’s 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid in the Uefa Champions League final on Saturday.
With rumours rife of a potential transfer to Bayern Munich, reports indicate that Liverpool are in contact with striker Harry Kane over a potential transfer.
Mané, whose Liverpool contract expires at the end of next season, has not yet signed a new deal and opted not to give any assurances to Liverpool fans before the showpiece match in Paris last night.
“This question [about my future] I will answer after the Champions League, if I’m staying or not,” Mané told Sky Sports.
The quote sparked a large media frenzy, because unlike Mané’s teammate Mohamed Salah, who made it clear he would stay for at least the next year, the Senegalese gave no such assurances.
Following the game on Saturday night, renowned transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano reported that Mané has decided to leave the club. Official statements from the player and Liverpool are still pending.
Bayern Munich are closing in on a deal to sign the Afcon winner, with a transfer fee of just £30-million (R600-million) potentially being enough to secure his services in the upcoming window, according to L’Equipe.
With Liverpool already losing their super-sub Divock Origi, whom manager Jürgen Klopp has called the best finisher he has worked with, the Reds face the possibility of a busy summer of transfers should Mané not sign a new contract.
And that is where England captain Harry Kane enters the equation.
Liverpool are reportedly in talks with the 28-year-old striker who scored 17 league goals this season, helping Spurs to Champions League qualification, according to The Anfield Wrap.
The transfer would be a blockbuster one for the Reds. However with Kane valued at £150-million (R3-billion) it remains to be seen whether they would alter their transfer model and splash the cash on him.
Image source: @SportsIllustrated
