Wantaway Premier League stars Sadio Mane and Romelu Lukaku have been urged to form a formidable partnership at Bayern Munich and snub interest elsewhere.
Lukaku's return to Chelsea has been somewhat underwhelming, and 12 months on both the player and the club are looking to cut ties. Mane meanwhile shocked the Liverpool camp shortly after the Champions League final as he is to explore a new challenge away from Anfield.
Mane has been heavily linked with Bayern, with Robert Lewandowski signalling the end of his career with the Bundesliga champions at the end of the season. But Lukaku has also been linked, and they could both sign to form an unstoppable new attack.
According to DaveOCKOP, Bayern have already agreed a three-year deal with Mane after the Senegalese forward spoke directly with Julian Nagelsmann. It is now up to both clubs to agree a fee, with Liverpool demanding at least £42.5m for their star who sees his contract expire next season.
It's the first big name to leave Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool side ever since the German started winning trophies with the club, and with Mohamed Salah also weighing up his future, it could be the start of the end at Anfield. But Mane's exit could signal Salah's stay, with more wages freed up to offer the Egyptian a revised contract offer.
Bayern are eager to secure a new forward after Lewandowski admitted that "the story was over" after the club won their tenth consecutive Bundesliga title. Mane has been playing more centrally for Liverpool, and he may have been given assurances over being Bayern's no.9.
However, this may not be the case as Bayern are also linked with Lukaku, much to the delight of club legend Lothar Matthaus. The German told BILD : "I would sign Romelu Lukaku if a deal was economically feasible.
"Lukaku and Mane for Lewandowski and Gnabry, if Serge were to leave the club - that would have quality and charisma. With this attack, Bayern wouldn't have to hide from any team."
It would certainly be a big statement from Bayern, and it would certainly compensate if Gnabry and Lewandowski were to leave the club. Gnabry has been linked with a move to the Premier League, with Liverpool now one of the frontrunners due to Bayern poaching Mane.
Lewandowski has been rumoured to be heading to Barcelona, but a deal has hit a stumbling block as La Liga president Javier Tebas admitted that a move would be 'impossible' unless they sold some assets. Frenkie De Jong has been mentioned and even offered to Manchester United as they look to raise the funds needed, with Xavi looking for a world-class no.9, according to Mundo.
But if they can't afford it, Chelsea have been touted as the leaders in the race, and if Lukaku was to head to Bayern then it would essentially act as a straight swap. That's a deal that makes logical sense, but we all know how unpredictable the transfer market can be.
Either way, it looks as though Lewandowski's Bayern career is over, and both Mane and Lukaku want out. If Matthaus did get his wish, Bayern would certainly be the team to beat in the Champions League next season.
