Liverpool REJECT opening £25million transfer offer from Bayern for wantaway star Sadio Mane

LIVERPOOL have rejected an opening offer from Bayern for wantaway star Sadio Mane.

The Senegalese international has been linked with a shock exit from Anfield this summer.

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According to , German giants opened the bidding with an offer of £21million, plus £4m in clauses.

Those add-ons are performance based and would include a Champions League win, for example.

Last week Mane, who was a key player as the Reds won two trophies and reached the Champions League final this season, shocked reporters when he hinted he would leave Merseyside.

He said: "I respect the fans and team but 60 to 70 per cent of Senegalese want me to leave Liverpool?

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"I'll do what they want."

Mane scored a hat-trick in Senegal's 3-1 win on Saturday and was predictably asked about his future at club level.

He offered another cryptic hint, this time revealing his favourite team as a child was neither Bayern or Barcelona - the two clubs he is linked with - but French side Marseille.

: "Bayern and Barca? Both teams are good. But I'm not a fan of those teams, you know. My favourite team is Marseille."

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Mane also claimed he was only "joking" when he claimed he wanted to leave.

He added: “I spoke yesterday while joking with a bit of humour and it was everywhere. I think we’ll stop there.

“Liverpool is a club I respect a lot. The fans adopted me since day one. Regarding the future, we’ll see.”

In six seasons at the club Mane has 120 goals and has helped the side become one of the best in Europe.

He has been named in the PFA team of the year three times and won a Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Club World Cup and Champions League under Jurgen Klopp, as well as losing two Champions League finals.

His desire to leave has sent shockwaves through the club, although it remains unclear why he is keen to leave.

Meanwhile, veteran midfielder James Milner, 36, is close to signing a new deal to stay at Liverpool on significantly reduced wages.