Bayern Munich are looking to take advantage of ‘difficult’ contract extension discussions between Sadio Mane and Liverpool.
Sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic is looking to make the Senegal forward the Bundesliga champions’ ‘statement signing’ this summer, according to Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg.
It’s claimed Salihamidzic met with Mane’s agent, Bjorn Bezemer, over the weekend, but there have been no talks between the two clubs so far.
The Senegalese star who has scored 118 goals in 265 games for Liverpool – has just over a year left on his current Anfield deal and has hit a stumbling block in negotiations, with Bayern ready and waiting.
Mane wants Liverpool to triple his £100,000 per week wages, according to reports.
Speaking after Bayern’s 2-2 Bundesliga draw at home to Stuttgart on Sunday, Salihamidzic said reporters would be “surprised” by their main target this summer.
Salihamidzic added: “We have to see what is possible and what is not. We have creative ideas.”
It’s been Mohamed Salah’s contract situation that’s caused the most upheaval at Liverpool in recent weeks and months, with the player also yet to sign and currently free to leave in the summer of 2023.
But Klopp says he has learned from his mistakes in discussing Salah’s deal, and won’t make the same mistake with Mane.
Klopp said: “It’s my fault, I made a mistake with talking to you about the Mo [Salah] contract situation which I usually don’t do.
“It led to plenty of misunderstandings and you ask again, so I go back to my former approach and close the door again.
“There’s nothing to say about any kind of negotiations of contract stuff, not for me here.
“When there is something to announce, you [the media] are the first group to get the information, until then you just have to wait.”
