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Will Sadio Mane Be The Subject Of A Summer Bidding War In Manchester ?
Monday, 15th Feb 2016 23:29

According to the Express, Sadio Mane will be in the middle of a tug of war between Manchester United and Manchester City.

The National media have been very keen on linking Sadio Mane with Manchester United, despite the fact that the Old Trafford club don't seem to have mounted any sort of bid either last summer or this January.

Of course Saints made it quite clear that they were not going to sell last month, but when has that ever stopped a so called big club when they want to sign a player.

Now it seems that Pep Guardiola himself is interested in signing Mane according to the Daily Star, despite the fact that the former Barcelona manager will have the cash to buy whoever he wants in World football, the Express claim he will be looking to spend a large chunk of that cash on Mane.

The reports also claim that Saints would be willing to sell at £30 million, that figure would seem a trifle high given Mane's strike rate last season and his return of only 3 Premier League goals this one, the last of which was back in October which will be over four months ago by the time Saints return to League action.

Indeed Ronald Koeman dropped Mane from the Saints side at Swansea City on Saturday and confirmed it was down to performance rather thn the disciplinary reasons that saw the Senagalese striker benched for the trip to Norwich at the start of January.

It seems strange given Mane's actual statistics that either Manchester club would be considering paying as much as £30 million for Mane, which suggests that the player has a very active agent who is keen on trying to put his man into the shop window and convince some club to pay him far more than he is at the moment.

There could be a silver lining for Saints though, if Lionel Messi is keen to try his hand in the Premier League as some reports suggest and he finds himself snubbed by his former boss Pep Guardiola in favour of Mane, then Saints could well have the money to make the Argentinian maestro's dreams come true " It's a tough job but someone will have to do it !

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BaselSaint added 08:51 - Feb 16
By the summer it will be 40M in the old back sky rocket. Cheers.
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JGH added 09:11 - Feb 16
If we can pocket £40-50m for Mane and Wanyama combined we can laugh all the way to the bank...
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SaintBrock added 09:52 - Feb 16
Interesting rumour and I'll bet it didn't come from either Manchester club this time. Chances are both will have managerial changes at the end of the season so don't expect transfer activity based on present situations as both new men will come with their own agendas and pet players whom they will want to bring in.

So, No, I don't believe Mane is good enough to figure with Guardiola or Mourinho if that is who ends up in the respective chairs.

Dare one suggest that Saints themselves have put out this story to test the level of interest as Mane is maybe now expendable after going 15 odd games without ever looking like scoring. I have been a doubter for some time but perhaps there are others who are now asking searching questions.

Having said that it could be also a smokescreen to lull Chelsea into assuming he won't be starting on Saturday? Of course he will start because we will need a flair player or two to beat Chelsea, not just hard work, lots of running and good organisation. I expect Tadic to play a part as well.

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IanRC added 10:20 - Feb 16
I really hope not as I still think he has the potential to be truly great. Despite our great run of results his work rate and pace was sorely missed against Swansea. In fact I think RK was going to bring him him on just before we scored to help break the deadlock. Deserves time from our supporters to recover his form
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Bettwsresident added 10:24 - Feb 16
Loving that there is no speculation around VVD or Forster...that would be painful!
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perazi added 10:31 - Feb 16
Ian RC - I couldn't agree with you more. I am bemused at the general slagging off of Mane who is by far and away our most dangerous attacker. Nick keeps quoting his 3 league goals this season as some sort of evidence of a poor season, but no mention of his assists and creativity in a number of playing positions, yet writes up JWP as the great attacking hope of Southampton despite never having scored a goal in open play for Saints in over 100 appearances. To those who seemingly want Mane sold ASAP just think of pace, creativity and work rate we will be trying to replace!
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SaintNick added 10:47 - Feb 16
Perazi - I do keep quoting his 3 League goals because that is what he is there to do, yes you are right its not just about goals though and he is also there to create, but even that has dried up in the last couple of months.

When people where giving Mane stick i often stuck up for him pointed out his work rate and assists, I have also never accused him of not trying, indeed my worst criticism of him was he was trying too hard.

On his day he can be scintillating, but his day hasnt been that often of late and there lies the context of ths article, 3 goals is not good enough for Man Utd or City, 6 assists is not good enough, they are looking for a lot more, I did not cast aspersions on Mane's ability at Saints I questioned whether Utd or City would be willing to pay £30 million for his current record, they have plenty of players who can run around and not produce too much, but to pay £30 million for a striker you are looking for 12-15 goals a season plus plenty of other things.

As for JWP I have never championed his as the great attacking hope, indeed I would usually not pick hm in my starting XI, however I have tried to give him credit where credit was due and in the last two months JWP has been a more vital part of this Saints team than Mane
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perazi added 11:01 - Feb 16
Some fair points Nick, though I would argue that JWP has been a more vital part of Saints team than Mane in the past two months. The other difference I'd point out is that Saints haven't used Mane as a striker very much if at all; most of his starts have been on the right or left wings or behind the striker - that's one of his great strengths which other Clubs likely to be in the market for him have probably noticed too - he can play as a striker but several other attacking positions as well.
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SanMarco added 11:05 - Feb 16
Bettwsredident - plenty of time for that - it's only February!!!

SaintBrock - I have a feeling that it could well be Saints as Koeman is clearly not over impressed and establishing a benchmark of 30m early is no bad idea. It might also be that the club wants to seem proactive in selling players rather than having to react once the window opens.
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halftimeorange added 13:27 - Feb 16
Are my eyes deceiving me or is this not a player who currently cannot do anything right despite his obvious speed. Mane is showing signs of being another Ramirez - loads of talent, not fitting into the current system and lack of confidence. If he's on the bench against Chelsea and we win then I can't see him playing enough in the near future to attract a bid of half the £30M being touted.
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IWOZTHERE added 14:47 - Feb 16
As a rule I've been in the 'keep them' camp but frankly I'm bored with the Mane and VW situation. Although neither player recently has been 'stirring' publicly it must be unsettling.
It wouldn't hurt us if they both went: we've got a ready-made replacement for VW in Romeu so we'd be 'quids in!' Pay decent money for a winger with a brain and give improved contracts to those players we want to keep. I'm not sure how long Bertrand's contract is but he's an example along with Romeu who I think is only on a three year deal?
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