Sadio Mane to leave Liverpool: Out of contract Dembele in line for Anfield?

Sadio Mane is set to announce his decision to leave Liverpool, opening the door to talk of a possible replacement.

On Saturday we reported on the increasingly precarious nature of Sadio Mane’s Liverpool future, with Bayern Munich reportedly waiting in the wings.

Since then, Liverpool lost the Champions League final to Real Madrid and the debacle regarding Mane has taken a turn.

The day succeeding the defeat at the Stade de France in Paris, transfer oracle Fabrizio Romano provided a damning update for fans of the Senegalese forward.

Via a column for news outlet Caught Offside, Romano states Mane and his representatives will announce his decision to leave Liverpool in the coming days, with the conclusion not thought to be linked to the result on Saturday night.

Mane’s decision will directly impact his teammate, the also unsettled Mohamed Salah, as Liverpool will not allow both to leave in the summer and will likely have more financial freedom to ensure the latter’s long-term commitment.

Romano’s update comes as a surprise after Mane spoke ahead of the weekend’s final seemingly hinting towards a potential stay on Merseyside.

In relation to Bayern, the German champions will be forced to dig deeper in their coffers than the £30m they were willing to spend previously, with Mane, who has one year left on his contract, valued at £42m by higher-ups at Anfield.

Will Liverpool look to replace Sadio Mane immediately?

Yes, but whether they’ll do so adequately will need to be seen to be believed. Sadio Mane has been central to Liverpool’s success since signing from Southampton in manager Jurgen Klopp’s second transfer window at the club.

The 30-year-old’s guile in attack suits the German manager’s transition focused system perfectly and alongside Salah and Firmino, the three formed one of the most productive attacking trifectas in Premier League history.

Winning every trophy at his disposal, Mane will be remembered as a legend which makes replacing him all the more difficult for both the club and whoever is drafted in.

Although discussions will be in their initial stages, Klopp and those above him are proactive in their approach, so they will no doubt have identified targets for this eventuality.

Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele has been listed as an early candidate after an unsettled stint in Catalunya.

Spanish media outlet Sport, quoted by the Mirror, claim Liverpool have made contact with the 25-year-old over a potential free transfer this summer.

Dembele is out of contract with the Spanish giants this season and there is uncertainty over his train of thought amid links to just about any team that can afford his wages.

Following a club-record £96.8m, potentially rising to £135.5m, switch from Borussia Dortmund, the Frenchman hasn’t hit the heights expected at the Camp Nou.

Considering the negative public image of Ousmane Dembele, which has since been debunked by both the player and his manager Xavi, whether he fits the profile of a Klopp team is in contention but the two have got a prior relationship from their time at Dortmund.