Soon, Sadio Mané could complete the five-a-side team, with claims emerging that he has agreed a deal to join Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr.
He endured a tough season after leaving Liverpool for Bayern Munich last year, but reports had previously indicated he would seek to stay and fight for his place in the team.
But while moves for Mané, Gerrard and even Firmino — who was always going to leave on a free transfer — are of little actual relevance to Liverpool’s plans, transfers for Henderson and Fabinho have thrown a spanner in the works for the remainder of the summer. And the Reds are not the only European side who could be left scrambling.
At Manchester City, Riyad Mahrez has been lured by the Saudi overtures, with a $39m (£30m/€35m) fee agreed with Al Ahli. Pep Guardiola has begun to draw up a list of potential replacements.
That could take him in the direction of a young starlet admired by both Liverpool and PSG. Manchester City scouts have been left ‘thoroughly impressed’.
In the latest instalment of the great Saudi exodus, Mané has agreed to join Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr, per L’Equipe. Yesterday, The Athletic broke news of talks, but the French outlet now claims an agreement is in place.
While the transfer is not yet complete, Mané has ‘agreed in principle’. This would bring his tricky time at Bayern Munich to an abrupt end, after a single injury-hit campaign.
Thomas Tuchel appeared to hint earlier this month that Mané could still leave, despite the player’s inclination to fight for his spot.
Liverpool.com says: Another day, another disappointment. Mané looked like he might be one to resist Saudi overtures and prove he still belongs at a high level in Europe, but money appears to have talked once again.
No doubt the growing core of Liverpool legends will increase interest in the Saudi league over the course of the season, with clips bound to circulate on social media, just as they have around Ronaldo. This, of course, is all part of the plan.
