Six players who could replace Sadio Mane at Liverpool

Mane is out of contract at Anfield in the summer of 2023 and recently joked that he would "do what the Senegalese people want" when a majority of fans voted for him to leave the club in a social media poll.

Bayern Munich are thought to be leading the race for the signature of the former Southampton man, who prepares to leave Liverpool having scored 120 goals and provided 48 assists in 269 appearances.

Mane's trophy haul with the Reds includes the Champions League, the Premier League, an FA Cup, an EFL Cup and the Club World Cup, but who could fill the Senegal star's shoes at Anfield?

Here, Sports Mole takes a look at six players Liverpool could target to replace Mane this summer.

RAPHINHA

Despite managing to secure Premier League survival by the skin of their teeth, Leeds United are supposedly resigned to losing star man Raphinha this summer, but the 25-year-old will cost a pretty penny.

Leeds only forked out £16.7m to sign Raphinha from Rennes in the summer of 2020, but the Brazil international's price tag could now have quadrupled amid interest from top clubs on the continent.

Raphinha's 11 goals and three assists were crucial in preserving Leeds' top-flight status last term, and the South American has now managed a total of 17 goals and 12 assists in 67 outings for Jesse Marsch's team in all tournaments.

Interested parties can expect to be quoted at least £60m for Raphinha, although Liverpool are reportedly planning to drive the price down by including Takumi Minamino as a makeweight in negotiations.

With Barcelona's financial problems bedevilling them and Manchester United unable to offer Champions League football, Liverpool could very well find themselves in the driving seat for Raphinha's signature.

SERGE GNABRY

Serge Gnabry's bags of potential were evident during his promising yet short-lived career at Arsenal, during which time he only made 11 appearances in the top flight before returning to his homeland.

The 26-year-old has since become an integral cog in the dominant Bayern Munich machine, helping the Bavarian giants win four Bundesliga titles and the Champions League since joining from Werder Bremen in 2017.

Gnabry had a direct hand in 20 Bundesliga goals during the 2021-22 season - 14 strikes and six assists - but he is stalling on Bayern's latest contract offer as he runs down the clock on his contract.

The Germany international, like Mane, is due to become a free agent at the end of next season, and one can imagine that the attacker would be tempted by a return to the Premier League with Liverpool, who may seek to take advantage of Bayern's interest in Mane to formulate a part-exchange deal.

Real Madrid were supposedly keen on signing Gnabry but have since withdrawn their interest, while Arsenal's failure to secure a top-four finish could lead the attacker to snub interest from his former employers.

OUSMANE DEMBELE

The Ousmane Dembele Barcelona contract saga continues to rumble on in the background, but the France international proved his worth to Xavi mere weeks after the club tried and failed to force him out of the door.

Dembele has largely failed to live up to his £126m price tag during an injury-hit spell in Catalonia, but he ended the 2021-22 La Liga season with 13 assists in 21 games. No player had more.

Such a feat is even more impressive given that he failed to make an appearance in the top flight until November 27 and only started 15 matches, and Xavi has left the door open for Dembele to sign a new contract.

However, the former Borussia Dortmund starlet is still due to become a free agent at the end of the month as things stand, and he is not expected to be short of offers.

Chelsea are rumoured to be at the head of the queue for Dembele's signature, though, so Liverpool must prepare for a testing transfer tussle if they are to lure the Frenchman to Anfield.

BUKAYO SAKA

Wishful thinking. Very wishful thinking indeed. But Bukayo Saka is said to be a player who Jurgen Klopp admires, and it is no surprise given his wonderful exploits at boyhood club Arsenal.

For a 19-year-old kid to step up and miss one of the three penalties which would hand Italy the Euro 2020 title, Saka has recovered expertly to finish the 2021-22 season with 11 goals and seven assists in the Premier League.

Featuring in all 38 matches would also be music to the ears of Klopp and his mission to keep the Liverpool treatment room as empty as possible, and there is just a hint of concern creeping in over Saka's future in North London.

Mikel Arteta has affirmed that extending the 20-year-old's terms is a priority, as Saka will be available on a free transfer in 2024 as things stand, but the Hale End product is reportedly demanding a release clause be included in any new terms.

Such a move would give Saka an exit route if Arsenal continue to fail in their efforts to return to the Champions League, and the youngster has already proven that he deserves a chance to test himself in Europe's top competition, which Liverpool would certainly be able to offer him.

MARTIN TERRIER

With Roberto Firmino spending a hefty chunk of last season on the treatment table, Mane would often fill in at the tip of the attack, and Rennes' Martin Terrier has also demonstrated his versatility in that regard.

Very few were expecting the 25-year-old to set Ligue 1 alight in the manner that he did last term, as he ended the season with 21 strikes in the French top flight either from out wide or in the number nine position.

Only Kylian Mbappe and Wissam Ben Yedder found the back of the net on more occasions in the 2021-22 Ligue 1 season than the 6ft Terrier, who is believed to have attracted the attention of the Reds.

Tottenham Hotspur have also been credited with an interest in the France Under-21 international, whose efforts were good enough for Rennes to secure a spot in the Europa League for 2022-23.

Terrier remains under contract with Bruno Genesio's side for another three years, though, so the French side can afford to play hardball over a fee for their star striker.

ARNAUT DANJUMA

Barely 12 months ago, Arnaut Danjuma tried and failed to help Bournemouth return to the Premier League at the first attempt. Now, the Dutchman can boast to have played in a Champions League semi-final.

Villarreal truly got their hands on a gem when they paid the Cherries in excess of £20m to take Danjuma to Spain, and the 25-year-old's debut season with the Yellow Submarine saw him amass 16 goals and four assists from 34 matches in all tournaments.

Danjuma also came up with crucial goals against Juventus and Bayern Munich to help Villarreal make the final four of the Champions League, although he missed the second-leg thriller with Liverpool at La Ceramica due to injury.

Nevertheless, the former PSV youngster is said to be a player who Liverpool have their eye on, and Villarreal's failure to even qualify for the Europa League could tempt Danjuma into a swift departure.

A release clause of £38m is said to exist in Danjuma's five-year Villarreal contract, and few sides should turn their noses up to such a deal for the Netherlands international.