According to a German source, Bayern Munich is interested in signing Sadio Mane this summer after conducting conversations with his agent following ‘tough’ contract negotiations between the striker and Liverpool. Germany sports writer,
Florian Plettenberg, Mane’s agent, Bjorn Bezemer, has spoken to Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic about Mane becoming the German champions’ “statement signing”. The prolific 30-year-old’s contract expires in 2023, and the Premier League contenders are claimed to have undertaken ‘tough’ negotiations with him about extending his stay at Anfield.
The teams have yet to reach an agreement over the African Cup of Nations winner, who has 118 goals in 265 Liverpool appearances. Salihamidzic stated the media would be “surprised” by the significant acquisition the 2020 Champions League winners are chasing after Bayern’s 2-2 Bundesliga draw at home to Stuttgart on Sunday. “
We have to see what is possible and what is not,” Salihamidzic continued. “We have some innovative ideas. After winning the Champions League, Premier League, and Carabao Cup among a slew of trophies since joining Liverpool from Southampton in 2016, Mane is claimed to be demanding a pay rise of up to three times his reported current Liverpool wage of roughly £100,000 per week. But he’s expected to receive roughly £300,000 per week if he extends his stay at liverpool beyond this summer.
Only Mohamed Salah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal were able to match his 22 Premier League goals as he shared the Golden Boot at the end of the 2018/19 season. That season, the former Red Bull Salzberg striker scored 26 goals in all competitions as part of a devastating strikeforce that included Salah and Firmino.
Following his role in helping Liverpool win the Champions League, Mane was named the CAF African Player of the Year in 2019, when the team won the Premier League for the first time since 1990, as well as the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup. Salah and Firmino’s contracts expire in 2023, putting Liverpool at risk of losing all three players for nothing if they do not sign new contracts before the start of the 2022–23 season.
A successful Mane transfer would be a spectacular coup for Bayern, allowing them to pair the hotshot with the reigning FIFA Men’s Player of the Year. The Poland captain has scored a total of 47 goals in all competitions this season, making him the only Bayern player to score more than 17 times.
Bayern Munich were knocked out of the Champions League quarterfinals by Villarreal after failing to score in Spain on their way to a 2-1 aggregate loss. Liverpool defeated Unai Emery’s side in the semi-finals, setting up a final against Real Madrid on May 28. Mane scored in both legs.
