Carragher offers immediate reaction as Mane finally agrees Liverpool exit

Jamie Carragher has paid tribute to Sadio Mane as he prepares to join Bayern Munich - labelling the outgoing striker a genuine Liverpool legend.

Mane is set to bring the curtain down on his Reds career after a stunning six-year spell on Merseyside. And his exit moved a step closer on Friday after Bayern struck a £35.1million deal with Liverpool for his services. The 30-year-old had hinted that he was keen to seek a new challenge elsewhere prior to last month's Champions League final.

Bayern have moved quickly to land the Senegalese star, who has plundered 120 goals in 269 appearances during his time with Jurgen Klopp's side. The former Southampton star was one of Klopp's first ever signings and has evolved into one of the Premier League's most deadly forwards under the German's guidance - and Carragher was quick to laud the Reds outgoing star on social media.

The former Liverpool stalwart tweeted: "My favourite @LFC player of this era, Sadio Mane finally departs low maintenance high performance & never injured! Trophies & goals galore, a true Liverpool Legend. Thank you Sadio."

Prior to the touching message he shared on Friday, Carragher had admitted that it was 'sad' to see Liverpool's deadly attacking trio finally broken up earlier this month. Carragher told Sky Sports: "Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp normally get their recruitment right certainly when they spend big. The figures we're talking - that's what they spent on the goalkeeper and Van Dijk and they made a huge difference.

"Liverpool right now do need to refresh their front line because of the age of that front three who have been absolutely fantastic over the last four or five years for Liverpool.

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"It is sad to see it broken up in some ways but it had to come to an end sooner or later and with Sadio Mane looking like he's going to move on, Liverpool had to do something and he's the one they've identified."

During his time at the club, Mane won the Premier League title, the Champions League, an FA Cup, a League Cup, the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup, while he was also in the sides that lost two European Cup finals.

The Reds have already moved to replace Mane after sealing a deal for Benfica hotshot Darwin Nunez earlier this week. Nunez has joined the Reds in a deal that could rise to a club-record £85m after netting an incredible 26 league goals in 28 games for Benfica last season.