29 July 2023 , 13:42
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Liverpool are set to miss out on a cool £7.5m as a result of Sadio Mane's move to Saudi side Al-Nassr.
The Senegalese winger is on the verge of joining former Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo in the Gulf State. Bayern are reportedly set to bank around £30m from Mane’s exit, with the move set to bring to an end a disappointing debut campaign in Bavaria.
The former Liverpool forward only signed for the German giants last summer in a £35m switch from Anfield. He started brightly but ended up scoring just 12 goals across 38 games in all competitions.
Mane, 31, was also involved in an altercation with teammate Leroy Sane and was eventually suspended for the showdown. Should his move to Saudi Arabia be pushed through, Liverpool are set to miss out on a useful cash boost.
The original deal that took him to Bayern saw the Reds receive a guaranteed £27.5m fee, whilst there were also a further £7.5m in performance-based add-ons slotted into the agreement. He will now not be able to achieve any of those.
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The move also means that Mane will not enjoy a reunion with his former side. Liverpool are set to take on Bayern Munich in a pre-season friendly next Wednesday in Singapore.
Sadio Mane only left Liverpool 12 months ago (Getty Images)Who do you think Liverpool should sign this summer? Share your suggestions in the comments below
Speaking at the time of Mane’s exit, Reds’ boss Jurgen Klopp said: “It’s a big moment. There is no point in anyone trying to pretend otherwise. One of Liverpool’s greatest ever players is leaving and we must acknowledge how significant this is. He leaves with our gratitude and our love. He leaves with his status among the greats guaranteed. And, yes, he leaves in a moment where he is one of the best players in world football.
“I respect completely his decision and I’m sure our supporters do also. If you love LFC, you have to love Sadio - non-negotiable. It is possible to do this while accepting our loss is Bayern’s gain. We wish him nothing but success in every match he plays in, unless, of course, it’s against us. His star will continue to rise, I have no doubts.”
Mane’s move to Al-Nassr represents just the latest Saudi swoop to inconvenience Liverpool this summer. The Reds have already lost former captain Jordan Henderson, who has linked up with Steven Gerrard at Al-Ettifaq.
He could be joined in Saudi by Fabinho who has been the subject of a £40m bid from Al-Ittihad. Reports have suggested that he has already undergone a medical ahead of the move.
Liverpool are scouring Europe for midfield recruits ahead of his exit, with Southampton's Romeo Lavia having been identified as a target. The Reds have already seen a £37m bid turned down by the Championship side.