Gary Lineker did not hold back when giving his view on Bayern Munich's transfer pursuit of Sadio Mane this summer.
Liverpool rejected the Germans outright after a bid of up to £30million was made - though it would have relied on the striker bagging the Ballon d'Or three times in a row, as well as Bayern winning the Champions League every year as well. That offer was dismissed as a joke by those at Anfield HQ, considering the add-on fees highly unlikely.
The Reds are understood to have demanded at least £42.5m (€50m) this summer for the services of the 30-year-old, who was named in the PFA Team of the Year this week, but so far the Bundesliga champions are yet to meet that total. The Senegal international has one year left on his contract, leaving Liverpool in a precarious situation.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Lineker told Jurgen Klopp that he has little chance of keeping hold of Mane this summer but did back him to make the right decision. He said: "I think it’s very unlikely Mane will stay now, it seems to be a matter of time before he goes to Bayern Munich if they can agree a fee; that’s what will happen."
As well as Mane, Mohamed Salah has also only got one year left on his contract and he could run down his deal before leaving next year for nothing. Negotiations have not gone to plan as of yet with both parties far away in their demands.
Roberto Firmino is also in the same situation, meaning that the fearsome trio that Klopp built his Liverpool squad around might all have different clubs come this time next year. There has been some alleviation due to the instant impacts of Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota but Lineker believes there could be big changes on Merseyside soon.
He said: "[Mohamed] Salah, I don’t really know what’s going on behind the scenes but they’re two huge players if they lose them both in the same summer or Salah in a year’s time but who knows. Klopp’s done it, he’s built this team from not much, already he’s got in [Diogo] Jota - who’s been brilliant - [Luis] Diaz, who’s been unbelievable… [Klopp] is so smart. Every team will miss players of that quality if they leave."
Bayern see Mane as a partner to Robert Lewandowski rather than a replacement despite widespread reports that the Poland international wants to abandon his beloved Munich to join Barcelona. The striker came out and explicitly said he wants to leave and is not entertaining any offer except from the Catalan club.
However, if the German giants can sign Mane this summer, it would certainly ease any potential departure for the Bavarians should their talismanic forward depart. As for Liverpool, they have already agreed verbal terms with Darwin Nunez and are negotiating a price with Benfica which could be a club-record deal.
