Manchester United and Newcastle have reportedly emerged as the likeliest clubs to sign Sadio Mane with Bayern Munich keen to offload the winger following a miserable debut season.
The Senegalese star only joined Bayern Munich last summer in a £27.4million deal from Liverpool.
Mane had been viewed as a marquee summer signing by the German champions having starred in the Premier League for the Reds.
Sky Sport Germany have reported that Bayern are expected to sell Mane this summer following a troubled campaign, where he has only scored 12 goals.
Mane was involved in a post-match altercation with Leroy Sane following the club’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City in the first-leg of their Champions League quarter-final last month, which left his team-mate with a bloodied lip.
Sadio Mane is expected to leave Bayern Munich this summer following a miserable season
Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel is reportedly keen to offload Mane in the transfer window
Bayern responded by dropping Mane for their next match and handing him a £250,000 fine – which is believed to have been a club record.
Reports in Germany have suggested only Premier League clubs are likely to be able to afford Mane’s £17.4million salary.
The former Liverpool star has now been linked with a cut-price move to Man United, with the Red Devils keen to strength their attack in the summer.
Mane would offer a versatile attacking option to complement top scorer Marcus Rashford, with the forward operating from both the left and a central role.
The link comes amid doubts over Jadon Sancho and Anthony Martial’s roles within the team.
Mane revealed last year he came ‘really close’ to signing to Man United in 2016, before joining Liverpool.
Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg has claimed Newcastle could represent a ‘very hot option’ for Mane, with the Magpies likely to seek reinforcements ahead of a European campaign next season.
Mane would strength Eddie Howe’s attack as Newcastle potentially prepare for Champions League football, with the forward having previously starred in the competition and in the Premier League.
A move to Man United has been seen as an option for Mane despite his Liverpool connections
Newcastle is seen as an option for Mane given the experience he would offer Eddie Howe’s side
A return to Liverpool is viewed as unlikely, with Jurgen Klopp’s side having invested £44m in Cody Gakpo and £85m in Darwin Nunez since Mane’s departure last summer.
Despite their significant transfer outlay over the past 12 months, Chelsea were reported last month to be monitoring Mane’s situation at Bayern ahead of a potential move.
Should a move back to the Premier League fail to materialise, Spain and Italy could represent other alternatives for Mane.
A proposed cut-price move could interest Barcelona amid their ongoing attempts to balance their books, particularly if the LaLiga winners fail in a bid to resign Lionel Messi.
Juventus may represent an option in Serie A with the Italian giants seeking to respond to three successive seasons without a league title.
According to Caught Offside, Mane has been earmarked as one of the Saudi Arabian Government’s big name targets as the nation seeks to attract stars to its league.
Cristiano Ronaldo moved to the Saudi Pro League in January with the forward earning £175m-a-year to play for Al-Nassr, while Messi has been linked with a £522m move to Al-Hilal.
source: dailymail.co.uk
