Liverpool superstar Sadio Mane's expected summer exit from Anfield would be a 'huge blow' for the Reds, according to journalist Pete O'Rourke.

The Lowdown: Mane on the move?

In recent weeks, the 30-year-old has been strongly linked with a move to Bayern Munich as he seemingly eyes up a new challenge while still at the peak of his powers.

In fact, Liverpool rejected a £21m bid for Mane's services on Sunday, as the Bundesliga giants look to bring in a replacement for the possibly exit-bound Robert Lewandowski.

The Senegal star still looks highly likely to move on this summer, though, bringing an end to a glorious spell at Anfield in which he netted 120 goals and won six trophies.

The Latest: O'Rourke bemoans Mane transfer latest

Speaking to GiveMeSport amid Bayern's unsuccessful transfer offer, O'Rourke couldn't hide his disappointment at Mane's potential exit from Liverpool.

The journalist lamented:

"It’ll be a huge blow [to lose him]. Sadio Mane has been an unsung hero for the last six seasons at Anfield.

"He was one of Jurgen Klopp’s first big signings and he’s been an astute piece of business having established himself as one of the best players in the world during his time at Anfield, so to lose somebody of his calibre would come as a blow, because it’s not an easy fix to try and replace him, because he’s such a key player for Liverpool and never seemed to get injured."

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The Verdict: Undoubted blow for Liverpool

While Mane may now be 30 years of age, he is still operating at an incredibly high level, scoring 23 goals in all competitions this season and playing a huge role in a memorable campaign for Liverpool, ranking as the squad's fifth-best player according to WhoScored.

Ideally, he would remain at Anfield for several more years, continuing to achieve great things and further enhancing his legendary status at the club.

As it stands, though, it looks as if Liverpool will have to plan for life without Mane immediately. Therefore, it is essential that a suitable replacement is found, enabling the transition to be as seamless as possible.

In other news, Liverpool have a strong interest in one Premier League player. Find out who it is here.