Liverpool have turned down Bayern Munich’s opening transfer offer for Sadio Mane, knocking back a £25million package from the Bundesliga champions.
Mane looks set to end his six-year association with the Reds after opting not to sign a contract extension at Anfield.
The Senegalese attacker has been a mainstay in Liverpool’s team since his £34m move from Southampton in 2016, scoring 120 goals in 269 games and helping them win the Premier League and Champions League.
After Liverpool’s recent Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid, Mane decided to leave the club and is pushing for a move to Bayern.
The German giants are also interested in securing his services as Robert Lewandowski closes in on a transfer to Barcelona, but they will need to return with an improved bid after seeing their opening offer rebuffed.
The Times claim a package consisting of an initial fee of £21m – plus £4m on add-ons – has been rejected by Liverpool, who know the value of a player who is regarded as one of the best in the Premier League.
Speaking before Senegal’s World Cup qualifier against Benin this week, Mane fuelled speculation he was set to leave Liverpool by sayinv he would be influenced by the wishes of his countrymen and women.
He said: ‘Like everyone else, I’m on social media and I see the comments. Isn’t it between 60 to 70% of Senegalese want me to leave Liverpool? I will do what they want.
‘We will see soon! Don’t be in a hurry because we will see this together. The future will tell us.’
But the Liverpool star backtracked after scoring a hat-trick which saw him become Senegal’s all-time leading goalscorer and said his comments should be taken with a pinch of salt.
‘I spoke yesterday while joking with a bit of humour and it was everywhere,’ Mane said.
‘I think we’ll stop there. Liverpool is a club I respect a lot. The fans adopted me since day one. Regarding the future, we’ll see.’
