Liverpool are playing hardball with Bayern Munich, having rejected a £25 million bid for wantaway Senegalese forward Sadio Mane, amid reports of the star’s departure.

According to reliable football journalist Paul Joyce of The Times, the Bavarian club tabled a £21 million bid plus £4 million in add-ons for Mane, a sum that Liverpool deem to be far less than their Senegalese forward’s actual value.

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What is interesting, however, is that Liverpool have not put a price tag on Mane, which appears to be a signal to Bayern Munich to prove how badly they want the forward and how much they are willing to pay for his signature.

Mane had a sublime six-year spell with Liverpool that saw him win the Premier League, the Champions League, the FIFA Club World Cup, the FA Cup, and the EFL Cup. Mane and Liverpool came close to winning another Champions League last season, but were beaten 1-0 by Real Madrid. The Reds also finished a mere point behind Manchester City in the Premier League, a testimony to the quality and competition in English top-flight football.

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Given Mane’s credentials, and his innate ability to tear open even the toughest of defences with his movement and skill, Liverpool are unlikely to settle for anything less that does not do justice to the quality of player that Mane is.

That being said, Liverpool also face a dilemma.

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Mane has already signalled his desire to leave the club and if Liverpool hold out by rejecting offers tabled this summer, the Senegalese will become available to move on a free transfer in the summer of 2023, when his contract with the Reds expires.

Given the fact that this window and January 2023 are the only two transfer windows to cash-in on Mane, Liverpool may well end up getting whatever they can for the Senegalese, a fact that Bayern will be well aware of.