Bayern Need More Than Mané To Replace The ‘Big Lewandowski’

Bayern Munich have taken a big step to cover the potential departure of star striker Robert Lewandowski — but it will take several reinforcements to fill his shooting boots.

On Friday, Liverpool star forward Sadio Mané reportedly agreed personal terms on a three-year deal to join Bayern, according to Fabrizio Romano. The transfer fee will be less than $41.9 million including bonuses, per Florian Plettenberg.

Bayern has been in the market for a scoring threat amid the growing inevitability that Lewandowski will leave the club this offseason, as Romano reports that Barcelona is preparing a formal offer, with Chelsea and PSG also still in the mix.

Mané can certainly contribute offensively, but as a forward/winger hybrid, he’s simply not a pure scorer like the Polish international.

• Lewandowski scored 35 goals to lead the Bundesliga and claim the European Golden Boot for the second consecutive season.
• Mané scored 16 goals in the 2021-22 Premier League season — good for fifth in the league but trailing teammate Mohamed Salah, who tied for the league lead (23).
• Mané scored five goals in Champions League play, but Lewandowski had 13 — two behind leader Karim Benzema, who won the trophy with Real Madrid.

If Mané is unable to be that true scoring presence in Munich, Bayern will have to look elsewhere.

Forwards Serge Gnabry (14 goals), Leroy Sane (7), and Kingsley Coman (6) are threats, but are also predominantly wingers.

Liverpool, meanwhile, should have little trouble replacing Mané: They signed forward Darwin Núñez from Benfica for a club-record transfer fee worth up to $104.8 million.