Liverpool have 'concerns' over £72m star's future at Anfield | OneFootball

There ‘will be concerns’ from within Liverpool over the future of forward Sadio Mane, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

Mane is one of several high-profile stars approaching the final 12 months of their current contracts at Anfield in what is set to be an intriguing summer for the club.

Liverpool have enjoyed another stellar season under the tutelage of Jurgen Klopp, already claiming the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, while adding the Premier League and Champions League to their haul remains a possibility.

However, the landscape in the red half of Merseyside could be very different next term as the contracts of Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Mane are all set to expire in June 2023.

And while Firmino has fallen down the pecking order in recent times and negotiations have long been underway to extend Salah’s stay, there have been limited updates over Mane’s future plans until recently.

According to Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, Bayern Munich have identified the Senegal international as their ‘top’ transfer target ahead of next season.

But the reliable Fabrizio Romano has since claimed that it’s not only the Bavarians who are interested in snapping up Mane, while Liverpool’s hierarchy are set to open talks with his representatives over the ‘coming days’ to discuss his next steps.

What has O’Rourke said about Mane?

Liverpool have been boosted by the January arrival of Luis Diaz from FC Porto, but O’Rourke doesn’t believe his success would automatically mean the prospect of Mane departing would not be a ‘massive loss’.

The Football Terrace…

He told GiveMeSport: “I wouldn’t say it’s not a massive loss; obviously you don’t want to lose your best players, but he’s entering the final year of his contract at Liverpool and is still no nearer, it seems, to signing a new deal.

“So, there will be concerns from Liverpool over what’s going on there with Sadio Mane.”

How big a loss would Mane be?

Mane, who is valued at £72m by Transfermarkt, has established himself as one of the world’s best players since joining the Reds from Southampton back in July 2016.

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Klopp called him a ‘machine’ earlier in the season, and after registering 119 goals and 48 assists in 267 appearances for Liverpool, it’s hard to argue against that assessment.

Watching Mane walk out the exit door could be a devastating blow for Liverpool and Klopp, and everyone associated with the club will surely be hoping an agreement can be reached that sees him remain on Merseyside for the foreseeable future.