By Wayne Veysey

1st Sep, 2023 | 1:38pm

Sources: Liverpool explore 'sensational' late Leroy Sane deal

Liverpool are exploring a sensational deadline-day move for Bayern Munich star Leroy Sane, sources have told Football Insider.

The Merseysiders have identified the wide attacker, 27, as a top-tier potential replacement for Mohamed Salah.

The future of the Liverpool icon is up in the air going into the final hours of the summer window despite Jurgen Klopp insisting earlier on deadline day he is not for sale.

Liverpool have rejected a bid worth £150million in total for Salah from Saudi club Al Ittihad and their stance is he is not going.

But it is believed that the Merseyside giants are actually assessing the market for an A-list replacement for their star man.

Sane is firmly on their radar and is regarded as capable of filling Salah’s creative and goalscoring boots after already proving himself in the Premier League for Man City.

The Germany international left the Etihad Stadium for Bayern in a reported £54.8million deal back in 2020.

He notched 39 goals and 46 assists in 135 games for Pep Guardiola’s side, winning two Premier League titles.

The winger’s best return in the English top flight came in the 2017-18 season, when he managed 10 goals and 15 assists in 32 league games.

Sane has since racked up 40 goals and 37 assists for Bayern – and has already opened his account for the 2023-24 campaign with two Bundesliga goals.

He is under contract at the Allianz Arena until June 2025.

The Schalke youth product primarily plays on the left flank but can also feature on the right and as a central striker.

In other news, Liverpool now want to sign Sunderland star in shock move.