Bayern Munich sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic ‘flies to the UK to get Sadio Mane deal over the line – with German giants set to make an improved bid close to Liverpool’s £42.5m asking price’ after two rejections

Bayern Munich have reportedly sent a handful of representatives, including Sporting Director Hasan Salihamidzic, over to England to negotiate a deal for Sadio Mane.

The German champions have had two bids for the Senegalese forward rejected and are said to be eager to push a deal over the line sooner rather than later.

Mane has just a year left on his contract at Anfield, putting pressure on Liverpool to sell him this summer to avoid losing him for nothing next year.

However, the Premier League giants attached a £42million price-tag on his head – which Bayern are not willing to match.

Bayern have already had two bids for the Senegalese forward rejected but hope to reach an agreement with the Merseyside club in the coming days.

According to The Mirror, Salihamidzic will meet with Ward today and look to present the Assistant Sporting Director with a deal that is mutually beneficial.

It is believed that deal will include several target-based bonuses that will suit the Premier League giants and the Bundesliga side.

Salihamidzic is also said to have held meetings with the player’s agent Bjorn Bezem and Sky Sports are reporting that Mane is on the verge of confirming his move.

The Senegal star arrived at Anfield from Southampton in 2016 for £34m and has gone on to play a key role in the Reds’ success alongside Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino in recent seasons.

His first trophy came in 2019 with the Champions League and the Premier League title followed a season later.

He completed his English trophy set by winning the League Cup and FA Cup this year, while he was also part of the side which won the 2019 UEFA Super Cup and 2019 FIFA Club World Cup.

Mane played an important role in Liverpool’s 2021-2022 campaign as they battled it out with Manchester City in the Premier League title race.

Mane excelled in the second half of the season, having scored 13 of his 23 goals after winning the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal at the start of the year.

He also thrived his new role in the No 9 position, with Luis Diaz’s January arrival from Porto reshuffling the usual front three deployed by Klopp.

Mane will be a big loss for Liverpool but Jurgen Klopp has done well to replace the Senegalese forward with the £85million signing of Benfica forward Darwin Nunez.

Nunez, who has been handed the No 27 shirt, has agreed to a six-year deal on £140,000-a-week at Anfield and passed a medical on Merseyside earlier this week.

Speaking about his deal, Nunez said: ‘I’m really happy and delighted to be here at Liverpool. It’s a massive club. I’d like to thank my partner and my parents and my son, who is a real source of pride for me.

‘They’ve been really important to me in the stages in my career. I’m really proud of them, and for the work we do, me and my partner, as a team and I’m grateful to her that I’m here.