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Liverpool have agreed to sell Sadio Mané to Bavarian giants Bayern Munich this summer for an initial fee of £27.5 million, with the potential to rise to £35.1 million, according to The Times.
Negotiations were intense, with Bayern’s sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic bringing an entourage to Liverpool to try and talk round counterpart Julian Ward who had already stonewalled two bids.
Mané’s add-ons comprise of £5 million based on appearance and £2.6 million based on individual and team achievements; this includes clauses for Bayern to win the Bundesliga in every year of the Senegalese winger’s 3 year contract, as well as a provision for a bonus if Mané wins the Ballon d’Or in each of the next three seasons.
It seems unlikely, then, that this fee will reach the full £35.1 million.
However Liverpool’s hand was somewhat forced as the player became increasingly frustrated by Liverpool’s famously stingy contracts and when Bayern registered an interest his head was turned.
Julian Ward can pat himself on the back, however, after once again displaying Liverpool’s savvy in the transfer market, driving Bayern up from an initial offer of £25 million total, to now potentially over £30 million.
Mané was Klopp’s first big signing when he arrived at Liverpool and many fans will be sad to see such an influential player leave.
The forward scored 120 goals in 269 games for the Reds and won every trophy possible.
But a combination of Jota’s emergence, the signings of Darwin Nunez and Fabio Carvalho and an unwillingness to bend on salaries made this a mutually beneficial move for player and club.