Sadio Mane: is he leaving Liverpool FC, favourites to sign him, how much will he cost, possible replacements

With the hurt of Saturday’s Champions League final still being felt by Liverpool fans across the world, it has not been helped by the uncertainty surrounding the future of Sadio Mane.

The Senagalese forward has been a vital cog in the well-oiled machine that Jurgen Klopp has built throughout his six years at the club, but murmurings suggest that the 30-year-old is eyeing the exit door this summer.

But is this actually true? If so, who is interested, how much will he cost and will Liverpool line up a replacement?

Here is everything you need to know about Mane’s immediate future at Anfield.

What has been said about Sadio Mane’s future at Liverpool?

It has long been rumoured that at least one of the dangerous three-pronged Liverpool attack which yielded the Champions League and Premier League - Mane, Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino - would be leaving for pastures new this summer.

Many were under the impression that this season’s Premier League Golden Boot winner Salah would be departing the club due to stalled negotiations over a new contract - but according to recent reports, it is Mane that is rumoured to be heading towards the Anfield exit door.

Apparently, the 30-year-old has been mulling over his future at the club in recent months, with the prospect of wanting a fresh new challenge at the forefront of his mind.

Rumours that have been building on top of eachother over the course of 2022, but is any of this true?

Will Sadio Mane leave Liverpool?

According to a number of reports, such as one from journalist Fabrizio Romano and news organisation Sky Sports, Mane has told Liverpool club officials of his wish to leave this summer.

The club have been desperate in trying to resolve Mane’s future, who had one year left on his current deal at Anfield.

The ex-Southampton man had been raising Reds fans’ hopes of remaining at the club ahead of last weekend’s gut-wrenching UEFA Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid, stating during the media day: “Come back to me on Saturday and I will give you the best answer you want to hear, for sure. It’s special.”

However, it seems that the forward has made his mind up, with Romano posting on Twitter: “Sadio Mané has decided to leave Liverpool this summer.

“He’s ready for a new experience after many special years with Reds - it will be confirmed to the club.”

How much will a club have to pay for Sadio Mane?

Various reports believe that Liverpool have slapped a price tag of between £30-35 million on the head of Mané this summer.

The 30-year-old was signed from Premier League rivals Southampton for £34 million in 2016.

Who are the favourites to sign Sadio Mane?

It will be to no one’s surprise that all of Europe’s elite are lining up the signature of Mané ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich have been heavily linked.

Sky Germany are reporting that Julian Nagelsmann’s outfit are willing ready to lodge a bid of €30 million plus between €5-10 million of add-on, along with a three-year contract.

Spanish top-clubs such as Barcelona and Real Madrid are also rumoured to be interested in Mane’s services - especially with both missing out on PSG golden boy Kylian Mbappe, who signed a lucrative contract extension at the Parisian club earlier this month.

Will Liverpool sign a replacement?

Reports suggested that the primary target of the Anfield club would have been Spurs’ Heung-min Son - who shared this season’s Golden Boot with Salah - had the North London club not secured Champions League football for next season.

Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele, Villareal’s Arnaut Danjuma and Benfica’s Rafael Leao have also been strongly-linked for a switch to Merseyside.

But could his replacement already be at the club?

Klopp has already welcomed the mightily impressive Luis Diaz in January, with the winger scoring seven times and assisting twice since joining from FC Porto.

Liverpool have also recently announced the signing of Fabio Carvalho from Fulham.

However, it would be unfair to expect the 19-year-old can immediately fill the boots of Mane.

What is Sadio Mane’s record at Liverpool FC?

Mane has netted 120 goals in 269 appearances for Liverpool - including 24 on a European stage.

The 30-year-old won the Premier League Golden Boot award in the 2018/19 season, as well as being named in UEFA’s Team of the Year in 2019.

During his time in Merseyside, he has received the following honours:

• Premier League - 2019/2022 season
• FA Cup - 2021/2022 season
• EFL Cup - 2021/2022 season
• UEFA Champions League - 2018/2019 season
• UEFA Super Cup - 2019
• FIFA Club World Cup - 2019