In the wake of reports that Sadio Mane is on his way to Bayern Munich, Robbie Keane has questioned why any player would leave Liverpool for the German champions.
Bayern Munich reportedly had a second proposal of €35.3 million (£30 million) rejected by Liverpool earlier this week due to bonus-related add-ons.
Mane has six major championships to his name in six seasons at Anfield, and his contract has another year left on it.
However, the 30-year-old intimated that he is open to leaving the English giants this window while on international duty with Senegal last week.
However, ex-Liverpool striker Keane believes Mane will take a step back in his career if he switches from the Premier League runners-up to the Bundesliga champions.
"Obviously, if Mane goes, it's a major loss for Liverpool," Keane said during a media day ahead of his involvement in the Soccer Aid charity event on Sunday.
"If the rumors are accurate and he joins Bayern Munich, it will be a fantastic signing." It appears that they will lose [Robert] Lewandowski.
"I don't see why you would leave Liverpool to join Bayern Munich at this time."
"Especially when you have a manager like Jurgen Klopp and what he's doing right now, winning two cups and looking like he might have easily won four."
"I'm taken aback by that. He's obviously a world-class player. I'm confident that he will fit in well with any squad."
Since joining Liverpool for £34 million from Southampton at the start of the 2016-17 season, Mane has scored 90 goals in 196 Premier League games.
Only Jamie Vardy of Leicester City (104 goals), Mohamed Salah of Liverpool (118 goals), and Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur (134 goals) have scored more in the competition during that time.
Jurgen Klopp's team appear to be close to signing Benfica attacker Darwin Nunez as a possible replacement.
Nunez has 48 goals in 85 games for Benfica in all competitions, 61 of which he started, and has an average of 1.2 goals per 90 minutes in the Portuguese Primeira Liga last season.
Mane scored 0.5 goals per 90 minutes in the Premier League, but over six more games and in a stronger league in the 2021-22 season.
Keane, who played for Liverpool in 2008-09, feels Nunez will bring something new to the club if a deal with Benfica is reached.
"I've seen him play a few times and he's a good player," Keane stated. "He's obviously young, and he's a number nine, which Liverpool hasn't had in a while."
"Of sure, they have [Roberto] Firmino, but Firmino is a ten." There hasn't been a number nine in a long time.
"As a result, it'll provide a bit more of a target man for others to play off." "I believe it will be a successful signing."
Keane is also looking forward to playing in Soccer Aid in partnership with UNICEF this weekend, a charity match that will assist collect money to give children the greatest possible start in life.
"We've come to help UNICEF raise as much money as possible," he explained.
"What they've accomplished in the previous 11-12 years, the amount of money they've raised, is astounding." It's also beneficial to come here and mingle with individuals from all walks of life."
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