Liverpool

Liverpool

Premier League • England

Liverpool find second Sadio Mane bid comical, as Julian Ward hits Bayern Munich with stern warning

Sadio Mane, Jordan Henderson and Diogo Jota celebrate

Bayern Munich’s sporting director wants to hold talks with his Liverpool counterpart after the Reds rejected a second Sadio Mane bid, reports claim.

The 30-year-old has one year left on his contract, with his next deal the last big one of his career. While he could extend his Liverpool stay after six years there, he wants a new challenge instead.

And Bayern are the firm frontrunners to sign him. The German champions had a first bid worth £25million with add-ons rejected.

However, The Times now claims that Bayern have now failed by offering a package worth a potential total of £30million.

The upfront bid has increased from £21.5million to £23.5million. The add-ons, meanwhile, have gone up to £6.5million from £2.5million.

But Liverpool, led by sporting director Julian Ward, have found the details of those added extras ‘laughable’.

Bayern would only have to pay the full £30million for Mane if he won both the Ballon d’Or and the Champions League in every season of his proposed three-year contract.

Bayern reportedly expected this second bid to work, but the Reds have laughed it off and are waiting for more.

Reports elsewhere from SportBILD claim that Bayern are planning face-to-face talks with Ward. Sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic reportedly wants to travel to England with club CEO Oliver Kahn to meet Ward.

However, The Times adds that Ward has told the pair not to bother unless they get serious over a deal.

Indeed, Liverpool are looking for £42.5million for Mane. Interestingly, that is reportedly the same figure Bayern want from Barcelona for Robert Lewandowski this summer. The Poland international is three years older than Mane.

Liverpool accept Mane, Bayern wishes

Sadio Mane, Joel Matip Liverpool 2022

However, Liverpool’s stance does not mean that they are unwilling to accept Mane‘s exit wishes.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has accepted Mane’s desires and will not stand in the forward’s way. What’s more, the Reds want the deal to advance as smoothly as possible.

But the Anfield club want a deal on their terms – or better terms than those currently on the table from Bayern.

Thiago offers Sadio Mane his house in Munich ahead of Bayern move

Thiago offers Sadio Mane his house in Munich ahead of Bayern move

Liverpool midfielder Thiago has offered Sadio Mane his house in Munich if the winger moves to Bayern Munich this summer.

Mane has proved one of Klopp’s best signings in his tenure as Liverpool manager. It became clear with his debut goal away at Arsenal in 2016 that he would fit in well at Anfield.

That was when the Senegalese played on the right of the Reds’ attack. Mane shifted to the left to accommodate for Mohamed Salah and has dominated that role for some time.

This term, though, he shifted to the middle as Luis Diaz arrived from Porto in January.

Liverpool looking at replacements

Despite Bayern so far frustrating Liverpool with their negotiating tactics, it seems only a matter of time before Mane leaves for Germany.

He wants a new challenge after helping win six major trophies for the Reds and wants to stamp his mark elsewhere.

As for who Liverpool could sign, Klopp will be looking to pull off another transfer masterstroke to replace Mane.

Diaz, Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah have settled in excellently at Anfield. Villarreal’s Arnaut Danjuma and Serge Gnabry are on the club’s radar for replacements.

But reports on Wednesday talked of a potential club-record deal for Benfica striker Darwin Nunez.