Liverpool are waiting for Bayern Munich to show them the money for Sadio Mane before pressing ahead with a bid for Benfica’s brilliant young striker Darwin Nunez.
The Reds are refusing to allow the German giants to get Mane on the cheap after rejecting an improved second offer of £30million, which included add-ons.
Bayern’s board are scheduled to meet again in the coming days to decide their next move, with Liverpool demanding £42.5million for a player who has developed into one of the game’s most lethal forwards during his six seasons at Anfield.
That would trigger an official move from Liverpool to beat Manchester United to Uruguayan talisman Nunez.
Liverpool are yet to table a bid for Nunez, who has an £85million buy-out clause.
But they have been in talks with both Benfica and the player’s representatives.
Anfield chiefs have informed the Lisbon club that they would be willing to pay a fee in excess of £70million as well as a package of add-ons - if Mane departs.
It is the structure and value of the bonus payments that are seen as the only potential hurdle to a deal being agreed once Bayern come up with the cash for Mane.
Nunez’s heart is set on working under Jurgen Klopp after getting a glimpse of Liverpool’s class and experiencing the Anfield atmosphere in the Champions League last season.
Klopp became a full-paid up member of the striker’s fan club during the two games, with Nunez bagging 34 goals for his club last season.
And the player has made it clear he is prepared to wait to get his dream move.
Nunez’s personal terms tally with the club’s wage structure.
There were claims from South America that Nunez had withdrawn from Uruguay’s squad to face Panama in a friendly to complete the formalities of his move to Merseyside.
But sources at Liverpool confirmed there is still work to be done with both Benfica and Bayern before a medical can be arranged.
Mane has made it clear that he feels he needs a new challenge in Germany.
The Senegal international produced another sensational season as Liverpool lifted the FA Cup and Carabao Cup and went heartbreakingly close to glory in both the Champions League and Premier League.
But he has just one year left on his contract and celebrated his 30th birthday in April.
Liverpool feel that allowing Mane to run down his contract before leaving for free next summer would represent better value than accepting either of Bayern’s two opening offers.
The Bundesliga champions have been rocked by Robert Lewandowski’s demand to join Barcelona and would need a stellar signing to pacify their fans should the Polish striker manage to force through his departure.
