Sadio Mane is reportedly desperate to return to the Premier League this summer after his move to Bayern Munich turned sour and amid talk of a fanciful move back to Anfield with Liverpool.
The Senegalese star departed Merseyside as a club legend last summer after six seasons' glittering service. In that time, he helped the Reds reach three Champions League finals, winning the competition in 2019 for the sixth time in their history.
His partnership alongside Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino also inspired Liverpool to win the 2020 Premier League title - ending a 30-year wait to become champions of England.
However, all good things must come to an end. And after 120 goals for Jurgen Klopp, the forward was offloaded to Bayern Munich for an initial £27.4m (?32m) rising to £35m (?41m).
And he started well in his new surroundings, scoring five times in his first six games for his new club.
The move to Bavaria, though, has soon turned sour with Mane rapidly going off the boil. Indeed, his last goal for the club came all the way back in October, with the player since going 12 games without registering.
And with a series of niggling injuries taking their toll, Mane let his frustrations boil over this week following a serious altercation with Leroy Sane. As a result, Mane has since been suspended by the reigning Bundesliga champions.
That has led to speculation of a high-profile exit at Bayern, with Manchester United among those lurking.
However, of the pair it seems Mane seems the more likely to leave.
And speculation over his departure after just a season in the Bundesliga is beginning to gather pace.
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Now, according to Football Insider, the player has told friends he 'misses Liverpool' and is 'aching' for a Premier League return.
In addition, Bayern will reportedly not stand in the player's way this summer if a suitor comes forward. Furthermore, they are setting his price tag at around the £25m mark and hoping to recoup the majority of their outlay last summer.
Most tellingly, Mane and his advisors are putting a return to the Premier League above all other options. That's after the player enjoyed eight glittering years in England with the winger also earlier impressing at Southampton.
However, Football Insider insists a return to Liverpool is seen as an absolute non-starter. With Mane turning 31, and due to the make-up of Liverpool's squad, a return to Anfield isn't up for debate.
Indeed, the German is preparing for what will likely be a widescale revamping of Liverpool's squad this summer.
They have fallen badly off their lofty perch and are currently in line for a worst-ever finish under Klopp.
Currently sat eighth, they are in serious danger of missing out of European football altogether next season.
But while Klopp is planning for major changes, he is unlikely to make sweeping alterations to his forward line.
And with Cody Gakpo most recently joining Salah, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota in the ranks, there will be no further additions in attack. That's despite the impending exit of Firmino after eight seasons, with the Brazilian leaving as a free agent this summer.
To that end, the Liverpool revamp will focus entirely on their midfield and defence.
They want at least two new midfielders and potentially up to three. And the German boss is also keen to sign a new, top-quality centre half to play alongside Virgil van Dijk. To that end, Joel Matip is likely to be sacrificed with a year left on his deal.
However, despite Mane's regret at leaving, a return to Anfield is simply not an option.
He left Liverpool with a record of 120 goals and 49 assists from his 269 appearances. Indeed, that record of a goal contribution every 1.59 games will surely make him an appealing target for someone.
Quite where that will be at this stage remains to be seen.
However, it seems certain Mane's time at the Allianz will end just a year into his three-year arrangement.
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