Sadio Mane prepares for third transfer in two years after Liverpool exit following further setback

Former Liverpool striker Sadio Mané has not endured the best of times since leaving Anfield two years ago. Mané was one of the club’s most influential players in his final season at the club as Liverpool pushed for a potential quadruple.

The Reds ultimately came up short in the Premier League and Champions League, with Liverpool losing the final in Paris to Real Madrid. For Mané, this was to be his last game for the club as he left that summer for Bayern Munich in a big money move.

Mané’s move to the Bundesliga wasn’t the success everyone thought it would be. He struggled in Germany and didn’t look like the dynamic striker who shone for Liverpool the year before. He lasted one season with the Bavarian giants and scored just seven league goals in 25 games, extending his tally to 12 in all competitions.

READ MORE: Liverpool LIVE transfer news: Murillo claim, Eberechi Eze ‘contact’, Riccardo Calafiori deal

READ MORE: Jude Bellingham’s private acknowledgment of Arda Guler speaks volumes as Liverpool ‘get in touch’

Mané subsequently followed the riches on offer from the Saudi Pro league and joined Cristiano Ronaldo’s side Al-Nassr last summer. Mané had a productive season with Al-Nassr, scoring 19 goals in 50 games in all competitions. However, his team failed to win the league or a national trophy. He did, however, win the Arab Club Champions Cup, defeating Al-Hilal in the final.

According to Saudi publication Okaz, Mané could be set for a third transfer in two years, this time moving to the Saudi Pro League.

The source claims that Al-Ittihad, who have the likes of N’Golo Kante, Karim Benzema, Jota and former Liverpool midfielder Fabinho at the club, could be interested in signing Mané ahead of next season. Mané’s move would be a season-long loan, but the deal is dependent on Mane accepting a significant pay cut from his hefty $26m (£21m/€25m) per season salary at Al-Nasr.

Turkish Pro Lig clubs Besiktas and Fenerbahce are also said to be interested in signing Mané, but both would likely struggle to match Mané’s hefty salary. The Senegal star spent six years at Liverpool, signing from Southampton in the summer of 2016 and scoring 120 goals in 269 in all competitions before leaving for Bayern.

Liverpool.com says: Mané’s downfall since leaving Liverpool has been as sad as it has been surprising. At 32, his career appears to be in rapid decline. It would be good to see the striker return to Europe, with a move to Turkey perhaps the best option.