Ask any Liverpool fan, and the last ten days to two weeks have been pretty tough. The club missed out on the Premier League and UEFA Champions League within a week of each other. Then, they were informed that star forward Sadio Mane wants to leave the club to start a new challenge. it is likely that he will move to FC Bayern, leaving Liverpool to wonder what they can do next to fill an almost unfillable void in the team. However, one name that has come to light recently is very exciting.
The name in question is Serge Gnabry. The FC Bayern winger has apparently been unhappy at the club and wants a better deal to reflect his quality. This has not been forthcoming, though. So far, with his deal to run out in 2023, Gnabry looks as likely to leave as he does to stay. Despite former links to Arsenal and a purported interest in going back to London eventually, Liverpool are keen to do a deal for the 26-year-old.
Jurgen Klopp is a massive fan, and it is believed that they could look to try and do some form of swap deal with Bayern. While losing a bonafide modern legend in Mane would not be easy, a high-class replacement like Gnabry would be very exciting indeed. His arrival would give Liverpool a like-for-like replacement, and it could also mean they do not have to worry about waiting all summer to find a new hire.
While losing Mane would never be easy, then, signing one of the best wide players in the world to replace him would soften the blow.
Robert Lewandowski also linked, but believed to be a distant possibility
Another name at Bayern linked with a move to Anfield is Robert Lewandowski. The veteran striker wants to leave Bayern, and has asked to be released from his deal or for the club to accept a reasonable bid. So far, the Bavarians are not interested in doing so and this could create some headaches through the summer.
Reports suggest Liverpool are keen to do a deal, seeing him as the ideal pick-me-up from losing Mane. He would also be reunited with his former coach in Jurgen Klopp. However, reports suggest that the player prefers a move to La Liga, preferably FC Barcelona. That might mean that Klopp and co. are unlikely to be able to land a deal for the striker.
Given Mane mostly played through the middle this year, Lewandowski would be more of a stylistic replacement than Gnabry. However, with Liverpool typically employing a front three who move around, there is nothing to say that they could not make a Gnabry-Luis Diaz-Mo Salah attacking trident work.
For now, though, it sounds like they have a better chance of landing the German as opposed to the Pole. Either way, it looks like a summer of change is coming at both Sabner Strauss and at Kirkby for two of te leading teams in European football.
