Bayern Munich are hopeful that Liverpool will accept a lower offer for Sadio Mane as a result of Thiago Alcantara’s move the other way.
Thiago moved to Anfield for around £25m in 2020 with one year left on his deal at Bayern. And according to Bild, this is the reason behind the German’s deliberately low offer to Liverpool.
It’s claimed that the offer from Bayern is around £21.3m. The Bundesliga champions are reportedly hoping that the ‘smoothness’ of Thiago’s transfer for roughly the same two years ago will lead to ‘concessions’ from Liverpool.
The bid is described as a ‘respectful signal’ from Bayern, to which Liverpool have ‘not yet reacted.’
Deja vu for Bayern and Liverpool
On the face of it, you can see Bayern’s thinking here. The situations of Thiago in 2020 and Mane today are remarkably similar.
Both players were, or are, looking for a new challenge having spent a considerable amount of time at their respective clubs. Both have one year left and are ticking into their thirties.
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At the time that he moved, Thiago was one of the best players in the world. The then 29-year-old had just been one of the best players on the pitch in the Champions League final in his last match for Bayern.
Mane, by contrast, couldn’t win the coveted trophy in what looks like being his final match for Liverpool. But he has been one of the best players in the world throughout his time at Anfield.
Still some way to go
The one difference between the deals is possibly the fitness of each player. While Thiago had regularly been blighted by issues in Bavaria, Mane has been virtually ever-present for the last five years.
There are signs that Mane could continue right at the top for the next five or six years. Seen through that lens, Liverpool are right to demand market value for their player.
Having said that Mane is a year older than Liverpool’s number 6 was back in 2020. Bayern didn’t stand in Thiago’s way then and perhaps Liverpool should therefore do the same now too.
Despite Bild’s claims though, other reports suggest Liverpool have in fact rejected the opening offer for Mane (The Times).
The Reds are reportedly looking for over £42m to agree to a sale. You would think an agreement will eventually be sorted out somewhere between the two club’s valuations.
A little way to go in this one yet it would seem.