Five players who can replace Sadio Mane at Liverpool

Bayern Munich is looking to sign the Liverpool giant this summer.

Liverpool FC is dealt with a huge blow, days after the disappointing night in Paris. The club’s main man, Sadio Mane reportedly is set to leave Anfield this summer in the hunt for a fresh challenge after 6 glorious years at Merseyside.

Senegalese Winger has been the architect behind Liverpool's success in recent years after his £34 million move from Southampton in 2016. He not only exceeded all expectations but emerged as a world-class winger who will leave big shoes to fill. 

Mane's decision might not come as a complete shock to fans and Jurgen Klopp as his disappointment was clearly visible in recent public appearances and matches. Even the German tactician noticed this situation before the Champions League Final and hinted that it could be Sadio's last match in the red jersey.

Mane has 120 goals to his name in 269 appearances playing for the reds and finding a lethal forward isn't going to be a smooth task for Jurgen Klopp. For Mane, the situation is simple, big European Clubs are after his signature and German giants Bayern Munich are tipped to be his destination. They are reportedly ready to splash $35 million to get a deal done with Liverpool which is likely to be a huge steal.

On the other hand, the Reds will have to spend a good chunk of money to get a replacement for Mane and we are going to take you through to the five most likely replacements for him at Liverpool FC.

5. Darwin Núñez

The Uruguayan striker has emerged as one of Europe's lethal marksmen this season with 34 goals in 44 appearances for S.L. Benfica. Núñez has attracted high interest lately, Arsenal and Manchester United are also looking to seize the opportunity of sealing one of the brightest prospects. 

The 23-year-old is predominantly an outright striker whereas Mane played at wing mostly. But after the arrival of Luis Díaz, he was given a central role, and currently, Liverpool lacks players for this. They do have Diogo Jota and Firmino in the ranks but Jota is not a natural striker while Firmino is way off his best form.

Darwin can easily slot into Jurgen Klopp's terms if Liverpool opts for him but with 3 years remaining in the contract and various suitors looking at him, Benfica is expected to cash in the opportunity and slash a big price tag. 

4. Ousmane Dembele

Ousmane Dembele has been a controversial figure at FC Barcelona since he arrived from Borussia Dortmund in 2017. The French man arrived in Catalan city with a big baggage of expectations but injuries have been his biggest roadblock throughout his whole stint.

Surprisingly the right-winger has found new life lately under Xavi and dominated the whole second half of La Liga. He registered 13 assists from 15 starts for the Blaugrana side and was expected to extend his stay in Catalan city. But the recent turn of events at FC Barcelona has hinted at his release on a free transfer.

Dembele would be a like-to-like replacement for Sadio Mane, both possess electric pace and can easily dribble past any defender. He might not be lethal in front of goal as Mane but has age on his side. Liverpool is one of the runners behind Dembele's signature but meeting his lucrative contract demands will be the biggest challenge. 

3. Serge Gnabry 

Serge Gnabry's career has been a complete roller coaster in recent years, from a West Brom reject to a Champions League winner with FC Bayern Munich, he has come a long way. The German forward has played a major role in Bayern's domination in recent years. 

Gnabry scored 14 goals this season in Bundesliga from 34 appearances playing on both wings. His career is expected to take another twist as FC Bayern are exploring possibilities to offload him after failing to extend his contract which runs down next summer. 

A move to the Premier League would be a fairytale chapter in his career and Liverpool would be an ideal match for him. He is likely to be a cheaper option compared to other targets and ticks all boxes of requirements at Liverpool FC. 

2. Arnaut Danjuma

Arnaut Danjuma has emerged as a new sensation in the last year and has taken big strides from playing in 2nd second division of the English tier to Europe's most wanted man. He took Spanish football by storm after joining Villarreal from Bournemouth in 2021 and registered 10 goals from 23 league appearances. 

Not only this, he was one of the main reasons behind Villarreal's dream run in the Champions League where he notched 6 goals. The Dutch winger is a left-winger and was deployed in the central role as well by Unai Emery sometimes which is exactly what Liverpool is looking at the moment.

1. Jarrod Bowen

An Englishman, a proven Premier League performer, high flying recent form, young, Jarrod Bowen ticks all boxes which would make a Liverpool fan excited going into next season. The West Ham winger smoked 18 goals in all competitions in the 21/22 season and played a pivotal role in their dream run in the Europa League and securing European football for next season.

He has been under Liverpool's radar since last year and is touted as a long-term replacement for Sadio Mane. One of his biggest attributes is his ability to stand out in big matches, he scored two crucial goals against Lyon in the quarter-finals of the Europa League which give glimpses of his scary potential.

Jurgen Klopp himself is a big admirer of the English winger and hailed him as "unbelievable" in one of his pre-match conferences. Certainly, the German tactician is a fan of Jarrod Bowen and with the manager's approval, Liverpool is likely to go for him all guns blazing.

For more football updates, follow Khel Now on Twitter, and Instagram and join our community on Telegram.