Liverpool Title Mission Made Harder by Sadio Mane Departure

Sadio Mane appears to be poised to leave Liverpool in the summer, and it’s fair to say his departure will be sorely felt by those on the red half of Merseyside.

The Senegalese hitman has yet to vocalize his desire to leave Anfield formally, but speculation has been raging over which team he might join, which could also influence your online sports betting in the near future.

With 12 months left on his current deal, the Reds would loathe losing Mane on a free next summer.

But will this hurt Liverpool next season? And who is likely to sign Mane? Here’s what I know so far and how I think things could unfold.

Bayern Munich Calling

Mane’s talent is undeniable; over the past few seasons, he has been a model of consistency.

Last term, the 30-year-old struck 16 times in the Premier League and is a focal point of the Liverpool attack.

Overall, Mane has netted 111 times in 263 Premier League outings for the Reds and has been a loyal servant, as he has spent six years at the club.

There have never been any rumblings of discontent in Mane’s camp, and he is one of those players who have an infectious smile that beams radiance throughout the Liverpool dressing room.

However, recent reports have suggested that Bayern Munich are looking to seal a deal for Mane, which could be in the region of $30,000,000.

In his time at Liverpool, Mane has won everything he possibly could have done, but perhaps it is time for pastures new. A move to Bayern, should it materialize, would only strengthen the Bundesliga champions. However, it would allow Mane to get his hands on the Champions League crown once again.

The Mohamed Salah Equation

Of course, Mane’s prospective departure will make life rather tricky for Jurgen Klopp, who has extracted the most out of a player who torments defenses with his blistering pace and eye for goal.

However, we shouldn’t overlook one particular equation in all of this in Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian striker has formed a lethal partnership with Mane during their time together at Anfield, and the pair were key to the club’s EPL title success in 2019.

Salah has faced questions over his future. Currently, he is entering the final 12 months of his contract, although he was adamant before the Champions League Final loss to Real Madrid that he would be staying with Liverpool.

Ultimately, Salah has revitalized his career at Liverpool and has shown he can cut it after failing to make an impression at Chelsea. He may feel like he has unfinished business.

Bridging the Gap

Although there was only one point in it between Liverpool and Manchester City in the title race last season, it was fine margins that swung things in City’s favor.

Liverpool will be desperate to overhaul City next season, and it will be fascinating to see what additions Klopp can make to his squad.

While Liverpool scooped two trophies, they will be eager to have another tilt at the title next season and success in the league is where they will ultimately be judged.

I have been keeping tabs on the outright market, and I think Liverpool’s EPL odds of +225 seems fair for them to win the title in the 2022/23 season.