There's no getting away from it, Sadio Mane's desire to leave Liverpool is a disappointment.
The 30-year-old has been nothing short of outstanding for the Reds over the past six seasons and is without question one of Jurgen Klopp's best signings throughout his Merseyside managerial reign. In that time he was won the Premier League, the Champions League, the FA Cup and the League Cup, not to mention achieving AFCON glory with Senegal as well.
So the question is why on earth would he want to leave? The official answer is likely to be to try a new adventure having won everything already with the Reds. The reality may also include receiving a significant pay rise and stepping out of the shadow of Mohamed Salah. Fair enough.
READ MORE: How Julian Ward used Portuguese connections to help Liverpool strike Darwin Nunez deal
YOUR SHOUT: Is Liverpool's Darwin Nunez €100m price worth breaking club records?
Rather than stand in the way of their wantaway forward, the Anfield top brass have - on the face of it at least - have been surprisingly accommodating of Mane's request. They don't have to sell him of course, he is under contract for another year.
But the strategy of buying players with a potential resale value has served the Reds well during the FSG era and should Bayern Munich agree to cough up the £42.75million Liverpool are looking for, then it can be considered a job well done.
Perhaps more significantly impressive is the speed at which the Reds have moved to capture Mane's replacement. There is a lot of money involved in securing such a swift transaction - £85million including add-ons - but it is clear that Darwin Nunez has been on Liverpool's watch list and was one of their top targets. A search for a replacement has not been a drawn out affair or an impulsive panic buy - more on them later - but rather an opportunity to move decisively for a player who looks every inch a Liverpool fit in what he has delivered so far for Benfica.
That said, Nunez is still at an incredibly early stage in his career. He has only had one truly prolific season for the Eagles, scoring 11 goals in his first season in 37 appearances - before netting 32 in 38 last season. It is a calculated financial gamble. Mane on the other hand, has delivered over and over again throughout his career. Munich know exactly what they are getting there.
But excitement brewing over the impending arrival of a new star is helping to dilute the likely exit of one of Liverpool's most important players. Over the years the Anfield departures of big players have often been seen as huge problems; sometimes even acts of betrayal. But almost every single time, that vital cog in the machine has been replaced, often with improved consequences. The examples are endless and go back for years.
Kevin Keegan was deemed unreplaceable when he left the Reds for Hamburg. In came Kenny Dalglish. Fernando Torres joining Chelsea would ruin the Reds chances of challenging for major trophies. Welcome Luis Suarez. Philippe Coutinho must be one of the greatest players in the world for Barcelona to pay all that money for him? Instead Liverpool reinvested that super sale in TWO of the world's best players - Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker - as fine a goalkeeper as I have ever seen play for the club and the centre-back's not too shabby either.
Such is Liverpool's pedigree, players will continue to shine and become stars and most will move on eventually. As long as their stints in a red shirt are trophy-laden it is absolutely fine. The same will apply when Salah eventually decides to call it a day. That could be in 12 months' time. A major issue for Liverpool? Not if Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez have anything to do with it.
The once unbreakable attacking triumvirate of Salah, Mane and Roberto Firmino had already started evolving, with the instant impact of Diogo Jota. The arrivals of Diaz and Nunez are completing the overhaul. When the time comes to replace Salah, supporters may find that his direct replacement is already at the club. Can Diaz hit the goal trail next season? I wouldn't bet against it.
Hopes will be sky high for Nunez. He will be expected to make a good early impression - and it doesn't seem likely that he would be afforded the lengthy bedding in process given to some of Klopp's previous signings like Fabinho, Naby Keita and Andy Robertson. But there is probably enough evidence to support the notion that the Red's quick-fire replacement of a much-loved striker will turn out to be more Luis Suarez...and less Andy Carroll.
