Wayne Veysey

Sat 15 April 2023 8:10, UK

Sadio Mane has told friends he “misses Liverpool” and is aching for a Premier League return this summer after his Bayern Munich move turned source.

But the Merseyside giants have no plans to re-sign the Anfield idol, who is expected to quit the Bundesliga giants following his dressing room bust-up with Leroy Sane.

It is believed that Mane will be made available for transfer by Bayern, who will look to recoup most of the £27million rising to £35m with add-ons paid to Liverpool last summer.

A return to the Premier League is seen as the most via option by Mane and his camp after eight glittering years in England at Liverpool and Southampton.

But a return to Anfield for the Senegalese is seen by the club as a non-starter given the player’s age – he turned 31 earlier this week – and the make-up of the squad.

Liverpool are set for a huge overhaul of their squad this summer in what promises to be their busiest transfer window for years.

But the focus of their business will be on strengthening their midfield – in particular – and defence.

The club have bought three forwards for big fees in the last three windows – Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo – and the trio all play in Mane’s favourite positions of left-sided forward and central striker.

Football Insider revealed in November that the Senegal great pines for his old club, and has privately admitted to friends that “I miss Liverpool and miss the Premier League”.

Mane has also been missed by Jurgen Klopp’s side, who have had a wretched campaign although their attacking play has been more effective than the other malfunctioning parts of the team.

He made 269 appearances for Liverpool that yielded 120 goals and 49 assists from all competitions, and left his supporters wanting more after quitting on the back of arguably his finest campaign at the club.

Mane banged in 23 goals last season and was particularly outstanding in the final months of the season in a new centre-forward role as Klopp’s side chased the quadruple.

With his contract having just one year remaining, Bayern offered the 92-times international a lucrative three-year contract.

In Germany, he made a fine start with 11 goals by October but has not scored since then and his career reached a nadir when he punched Leroy Sane in the dressing room after the midweek Champions League defeat to Man City.

In other news, Liverpool plot sensational triple raid.