Liverpool cash in with Mane exit to Bayern
Clubs agree £35.1m package to end six-year Anfield stay Break up of Klopp’s forward trio after Nunez’s signing
Liverpool have agreed the £35.1million sale of Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich, bringing to an end one of the most influential Anfield careers of the Jurgen Klopp era.
Having rejected two bids for their striker, Liverpool finally shook hands on a package that guarantees them an initial £27.5million, with the rest of the fee depending on appearances and individual achievements.
Hasan Salihamidzic, the Bayern sporting director, led the negotiations as a delegation from Germany travelled to England yesterday to get a deal across the line. Mane had already decided he wanted the transfer, and having invested in a new striker, Darwin Nunez, Liverpool were prepared to cash in at the right price.
Mane’s departure signals the break up of what was one of the most feared and productive attacking line-ups in Anfield history, Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, the dynamite 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 £33.5million – which was the catalyst for Liverpool qualifying for the Champions League in Klopp’s first full season in charge.
Mane, alongside Joel Matip and Georginio Wijnaldum, was one of only three first-team signings Klopp made in his first summer transfer window. The Senegalese forward was named the club’s player of the
year in his first season, ahead of Philippe Coutinho.
He maintained his consistency levels over six years despite often being overshadowed by the goalscoring exploits of later arrival Salah. In all, Mane scored 120 goals for Liverpool and was arguably at his best in the second half of last season
when his endeavours for club and country put him in contention to be named the world player of the year.
Mane will be the highest-profile Liverpool exit this summer. The club are also listening to offers for Takumi Minamino and Neco Williams as they expect to recoup much of the £64million upfront fee they paid Benfica for Nunez. Alex Oxladechamberlain is also considering his future, although that will depend on the quality of offers put to him.
Centre-back Joe Gomez – the subject of plenty of Premier League interest – is expected to sign a new Liverpool contract in pre-season.
Meanwhile, teenager Calvin Ramsay will complete his Liverpool transfer from Aberdeen this weekend pending a medical. Liverpool’s transfer business will be focused on trimming the squad after that.
Although their first-team recruitment is over, Liverpool did make a further addition yesterday, re-signing their 33-year-old former midfielder Jay Spearing as a player-coach at academy level.
Spearing, who left Tranmere Rovers this summer, will return to the club’s junior ranks where he started his career and captained the youth team. He is eligible to play over-age for the under-21 side.
Spearing left Liverpool in 2013 but has pursued a coaching career while continuing to play in the lower leagues and has been a regular presence at the Kirkby academy.
Last summer, Manchester United signed former Hull City centre-back Paul Mcshane for a similar role. Mcshane, who was 35 at the time, was never registered to appear for the senior United side.
It will be a comparable arrangement for Spearing, whose post-liverpool career also featured spells at Bolton Wanderers, Blackburn Rovers and Blackpool.