Liverpool are in contact with the representative of Serge Gnabry to discuss Jurgen Klopp’s interest in the German now replacing Sadio Mane at Anfield following the forward’s transfer to Bayern Munich.
The Reds agreed to sell Mane to Der FCB earlier in June for an initial £27.5m, rising up to £35m after add-ons split 66% on appearances and 33% on team and individual performances. But his departure leaves a void in the Reds’ attack, having offered 23 goals in 51 games in all competitions last season.
Klopp also started Mane in 32 of a possible 34 Premier League matches, but he had entered the final year of his contract on Merseyside. A situation that Gnabry also finds himself in with Bayern Munich, with the 34-cap German international set to be out of contract at the Allianz Arena in a year’s time.
Liverpool are interested in Gnabry replacing Bayern Munich new boy Mane at Anfield
Gnabry’s contractual situation at Bayern Munich has caught Klopp’s interest as he considers ways to cope without Mane at Liverpool. Sport report the Reds are already in touch with the forward’s agent to test the ground for any interest in a transfer, on the belief that Der FCB will lower their demands.
Real Madrid are also in touch with the forward’s entourage, having long had the former Arsenal star on their radar. Carlo Ancelotti is now considering Gnabry’s case as a possible replacement for Marco Asensio, and may not be afraid to bid should the Spaniard leave the Santiago Bernabeu this summer.
Yet Liverpool and Real Madrid’s interest may fall short, as Sport1 claimed earlier in June that Gnabry wants to play for Bayern Munich next season as he feels comfortable under Julian Nagelsmann. He is also not in a rush to solve his future as a strong World Cup could strengthen his negotiating position.
Bayern Munich have already offered a lucrative proposal to the Stuttgart native, as well, in their bid to keep Gnabry. Bild reported in April that the Bavarian powerhouse tabled an improved offer worth €19m-a-year (£315k-a/w). An offer that Sport1 noted he rejected, forcing Der FCB to freeze all talks.
Gnabry enthralled Nagelsmann during his first year in charge last season, particularly in a dominating display against Stuttgart. The German struck a hat-trick and assisted twice to help claim a 5-0 win on the road, as part of the 26-year-old’s 14 goal and six assist haul in 34 games for the Bundesliga term.
“He had a very good game,” Nagelsmann said, via quotes by Goal, last December. “The first goal was incredible. The two assists were really good. He’s an extraordinary player, he probably played fewer minutes than he deserved this season – today he’s done a great job.”
Liverpool now convincing Gnabry to leave Bayern Munich this summer, with Klopp interested in the versatile attacker replacing Mane, would see him become the Reds’ ninth German player to date. So, with that in mind, how did the previous eight German stars to play on Merseyside fare for the club?
Karius the last German to join Liverpool for Gnabry to follow amid Klopp’s interest
Loris Karius is the most recent German to join Liverpool for Gnabry to potentially follow amid Klopp’s interest in the Bayern Munich star this summer. The Reds bought the goalkeeper from FSV Mainz for £4.7m in 2016 to arrive as their new number one, yet he has not featured the club since May 2018.
The shot-stopper last turned out for Liverpool during the 2018 Champions League final against Real Madrid, when his errors helped Los Blancos win 3-1, and will now leave Anfield this year. He, firstly, inexcusably threw the ball to Karim Benzema, before later fumbling Gareth Bale’s speculative strike.
Can spent four years at Anfield after arriving in England from Germany
Emre Can spent four years at Anfield after arriving in England from Bayer Leverkusen for £9.75m in 2014. He ultimately left Liverpool to join Juventus in a free transfer after the Bianconeri offered him a £14m signing-on bonus and a £4m-a-year (£77k-a/w) contract, after 167 games in all competitions.
Yesil made just two first-team appearances for Liverpool after leaving Leverkusen
Samed Yesil made just two first-team appearances for Liverpool after the striker joined the club from Bayer Leverkusen in 2012 for £1m. He arrived on Merseyside at 18, having only played in one senior game previously and would leave in 2016 after only playing 126 minutes for the Reds in EFL Cup ties.
Long-time Bayern Munich star Ziege joined Liverpool in 2000 for just one season
Christian Ziege enjoyed seven successful years at Bayern Munich from 1990 to 1997, before moving to AC Milan. He won two top-flight titles and the UEFA Cup in Bavaria, and later contributed toward Liverpool winning the 2001 FA Cup after joining from Middlesbrough for just the 2000/01 campaign.
AC Milan sold Ziege to Boro in 1999, yet he did not last long on Teesside before accepting a move to Anfield when Gerard Houllier triggered a £5.5m release clause. But Liverpool were not to be a long-term home for the midfielder, either, as he moved on to Tottenham Hotspur in 2001 after 32 games.
Babbel took path from Bayern Munich that Gnabry could amid Liverpool interest
Markus Babbel took the path away from Bayern Munich in 2000 that Gnabry could now follow amid interest from Liverpool. The Reds signed the defender from Der FCB during the summer sales to end his 19-year association with the Bavarian side. But he only played 73 times over the next four years.
Hamann the headline German in Liverpool’s history books for Gnabry to follow
Dietmar Hamann is the headline German in Liverpool’s history books so far for Gnabry to potentially now look to follow. The midfielder has the most appearances for the Reds by a German to date with 283 across all competitions, between joining from Newcastle in 1999 and leaving for Bolton in 2006.
He had only spent one year with the Toon after moving to England from Bayern Munich in 1998 after winning two Bundesliga titles. Hamann also helped Der FCB win the UEFA Cup in 1996, and added his second winners’ medal in the competition with Liverpool in 2001, plus the 2005 Champions League.
Dundee failed to make the grade during sole season on Merseyside
Sean Dundee failed to make the grade at Liverpool during his sole season on Merseyside during the 1998/99 campaign. The Reds signed the striker from Karlsruher in the summer sales, but he would only play five games across all competitions and never scored before returning to Germany with Stuttgart.
Liverpool signed first German player from Borussia Dortmund in Riedle
Liverpool signed the club’s first German player in 1997 with Karl-Heinz Riedle moving to Merseyside from Borussia Dortmund. But the 1990 World Cup-winning forward would remain at Anfield for two seasons before switching to Fulham in 1999, having offered 15 goals and seven assists in 76 games.
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