Sadio Mane will be the 'perfect' signing for Bayern Munich - and his expected arrival in Germany will not depend on the future of Robert Lewandowski.
That's according to Sky Sports international reporter and transfer insider Gianluca Di Marzio, who has shared his own insight on the Liverpool star's protracted move to the Bundesliga. Mane has 12 months left on his current Anfield deal, but looks set to leave the club after six seasons, with the German champions favourites for his signature.
Speaking to wettfreunde, Di Marzio said: "Bayern Munich is the natural team for him (Mane) because he wants a new challenge and Bayern needs a player like him for their future. They're not depending on Robert Lewandowski but if Lewandowski will go to Barcelona, they will have a player who can play the part of Lewandowski or play with Lewandowski.
READ MORE: 'He knows what to do' - England sent clear Liverpool message after defeat to Hungary
"Mane is perfect for Bayern Munich and so I think he will go there if Bayern Munich and Liverpool find an agreement for Mane. Bayern Munich is perfect for Mane because they play offensive football, (Julian) Nagelsmann is the perfect coach for him. After a lot of years in Liverpool and the Premier League, I think Bayern Munich is perfect for the ambitions of Sadio Mane now."
According to the Telegraph, Mane has not made any new contract demands with Liverpool but has simply chosen to leave the club, affording the Reds the opportunity to cash in on his sale a year before his current deal is set to expire.
Seen in that light, the situation appears to be different to that of teammate Mohamed Salah, who has reportedly received offers from the Anfield top brass and tabled counter-proposals through his representatives.
As the ECHO has previously reported, Liverpool won't listen to any offers below £40m, despite Mane now being inside the final 12 months of his contract. The Telegraph also indicates the Reds would be "set to make a major profit" on any deal that took Mane to Bayern Munich.
Mane's proposed switch from Liverpool to Bayern draws parallels with the move of Thiago Alcantara in the opposite direction two years ago. Like Mane, Thiago had 12 months left on his current contract, but moved to Merseyside for an initial transfer fee of around £19milllion plus just shy of £5m in potential add-ons.
The Reds signed Mane from Southampton in 2016 for a fee of £31milllion plus £2.5milllion in add-ons that were met, according to figures reported by the Telegraph. The national paper's report also says that there is no sell-on fee from Southampton in Mane's contract so Liverpool will get 100% of any fee that they can agree to send one of their star men to Bayern or anywhere else.
