Munich: Bayern Munich have agreed terms with Liverpool to sign Sadio Mane, British media reported on Friday.
German champions Bayern will pay a fee in the region of £35 million ($42.71 million) for the signature of the 30-year-old Senegal forward, who had a year left on his Liverpool contract, Sky Sports and the BBC reported.
He is expected to sign a three-year contract and will undergo a medical next week.
Mane will leave Anfield after 269 appearances, having scored 120 goals in all competitions, a stellar return that helped the club to the Champions League title in 2018-19 and the Premier League crown a season later.
Standout performers
He was among Liverpool’s standout performers last season, netting 23 times as Juergen Klopp’s side secured the domestic cup double and narrowly missed out on the league title to Manchester City.
Mane won six trophies in all following his £34 million switch from Southampton in June 2016, forming a potent attacking trio with Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.
Klopp last month hailed Mane as “world class” and likened him to a “machine” but the player, eager for a new challenge, reportedly declined a new contract.
Mane was Klopp’s first major signing after taking over as the German set about revitalising the club to take them back to the top after years of underwhelming results.
Huge transformation
The Senegal international’s arrival proved to be transformative as his blend of pace, trickery and work off the ball guided Liverpool to Champions League qualification in his very first season.
Mane will become Bayern’s third signing of the close season following the arrivals of Ajax Amsterdam duo Ryan Gravenberch and Noussair Mazrouai.
Champions Bayern will kick off the new Bundesliga season at Europa League winners Eintracht Frankfurt on August 5, the German Football League (DFL) announced on Friday.
Berlin derby
On the opening weekend, last season’s runners-up Borussia Dortmund host fellow Champions League side Bayer Leverkusen and there is a Berlin derby with Union at home to neighbours Hertha.
As the World Cup in Qatar runs from November 21 until the final on December 18, the Bundesliga pauses after the weekend of November 12 and resumes on January 20, 2023.
The German Super Cup, traditionally the season opener, takes place on July 30 when domestic cup winners RB Leipzig host Bundesliga champions Bayern.
That same weekend, the first round of the German Cup takes place with Bayern and Leipzig playing their ties at the end of August.
