Sadio Mane’s move away from Liverpool has not made significant progress but there have been several names making their rounds as possible replacements. The latest name added to the long list of Sadio reliefs is Christopher Nkunku.
The tough task ahead that the Reds are faced with could take all summer to solve. The question at the club still stands: will the Reds even replace Sadio Mane with someone new, or will they take on the new campaign with one of the youngsters stepping in his place instead?
Sadio Mane’s Liverpool exit
Senegal’s recently crowned all-time top scorer is said to have already agreed to terms with Bayern Munich and it is only a matter of Liverpool and the German champs settling on a transfer fee. Subsequently, it was reported that the Reds rejected the first offer as it was way below the £40m evaluation.
Die Bavarians tabled a bid of £21m plus 4m in add-ons with Champions League winning incentives. Liverpool almost immediately denied their low opening bid and it is believed the second proposal will soon follow but will be closer to the Reds’ asking price.
"Liverpool have rejected Bayern Munich’s opening approach for Sadio Mane, deeming their total offer worth £25million an unreasonable valuation of the 30-year-old.Uncertainty continues to grow over the future over the Senegalese star, whose desire to leave the Reds emerged the day after the recent Champions League final defeat at the hands of Real Madrid.Bayern are considered the favourites to strike a deal for Mane and have made their first move for the Liverpool forward, tabling a fee believed to be £21million plus £4million in add-ons – a large chunk of which would only be earned should Julian Nagelsmann’s side win the Champions League in the future. (Via: liverpoolecho.co.uk)"
Liverpool’s long list of possible signings
Every forward in the game has been linked with a move to Anfield. At the start of the Sadio exit talks, it was first Ousmane Dembele along with Serge Gnabry who were linked with moves to the club.
This is understandable considering Serge Gnabry has been rebelling against a contract renewal with the club Mane is trying to join. The former that is Dembele is available for free and everybody is well acquainted with Liverpool and their famous free or budget transfers.
Following the pair of early transfer links to Dembele and Gnabry, rumours of Christian Pulisic, Ismailia Sarr, and others started surfacing. Now one of Europe’s most wanted players has been named as a Mane stand-in, Christopher Nkunku.
Nkunku’s stellar 2021/22 campaign in the Bundesliga and Champions League has Europe’s elite after him. It is no surprise that he is being linked with a possible move to Anfield. However, he could be one of the more expensive targets in the market.
He is wanted by Chelsea as Thomas Tuchel seeks a reunion with the player he worked with while at PSG. Manchester United are also said to be keen to add a player of Nkunku’s quality to the ranks as they work on their rebuild.
With Sadio Mane wanting to leave Liverpool, it has certainly made the summer transfer window a more exciting one to look forward to for those at Anfield. Signing a like-for-like player might be difficult but it is not impossible, especially with the list of names brought up as possible replacements.
They would have done a little, if not, no work during the summer if the team stayed as-is. But now with the Senegalese wanting to leave, we could have a new front three at Liverpool next season.
It must be stated that: when taking both of their playing styles into considerationd, Christopher Nkunku comes the closest to Sadio Mane. The pair share many similarities.