Although Liverpool are yet to announce a new manager or sporting director for the summer, transfer links continue to filter through.
One of those claimed to have been earmarked by the Reds prior to Jurgen Klopp’s decision to leave is Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sane.
With his Bayern contract set to end in 2025, Sane’s future is currently very much up for discussion at the end of the season. This has led to suggestions that he could be Liverpool’s ideal replacement for Mohamed Salah.
But according to journalist Fabrizio Romano, it’s simply too early to say who the Reds will be targeting. Writing on his Daily Briefing column, the transfer expert reports that who Liverpool hire as their new sporting director and manager will be ‘crucial’ to any signings, including Sane.
“Sane has new agent now, so it will be time to discuss his contract situation at Bayern again and with new person in charge soon,” says Romano.
“Discussions will take place and the situation will be clarified. However, I don’t know where Liverpool links are coming from as they don’t have a director nor a manager in place for next season, and these appointments will be crucial before deciding transfer targets.”
Liverpool waiting on key appointments
Just now, transfers are likely to be the furthest thing from the minds of the decision makers at Liverpool. They’ve got two really big pieces they need to put in place first.
Obviously, Klopp told FSG of his plans to leave back in November. This should have given the Reds’ owners more than enough time to get things ready for a seamless transition at the end of the campaign.
Nevertheless, the relentless nature of modern football means that there’s really no easy way of doing this.
Under Klopp, Liverpool have been able to plan transfer windows perhaps even years in advance. Knowing that the German will be in charge, they can assess options and targets and confer with the manager over them.
This methodical and long-term approach has undoubtedly been key in the Reds’ success with new signings throughout Klopp’s reign. They’ve rarely missed.
But now, with such uncertainty surrounding who’s going to be making the decisions, those plans will have to be halted, or even scrapped.
Who knows if previous targets will be to the liking of the new sporting director and manager. Legwork that has perhaps already been done in bringing players to the club may all have been for nothing.
If they don’t act fast, this could put Liverpool at a real disadvantage in the summer. Players who could perhaps have been convinced, such as Sane, will have already sorted out their futures. Hopefully, Jurgen’s early decision has ensured that this won’t be the case.
In terms of Sane specifically, he may well have been an option for Klopp. But given Bayern’s willingness to hold onto him, we’d now suggest that this has become a real long shot.
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