Sadio Mane: Southampton manager accuses Man United of unsettling forward

The Red Devils has a fight on its hands to sign Mane, with Southampton manager Ronald Koeman essentially shutting the door on transfer rumours surrounding his club.

Sport has confirmed that they have lodged a bid for 23-year-old Senegalese worldwide.

In his first year at Saints he scored 10 goals in 34 appearances, including the fastest hat-trick in Premier League history in the 6-1 win over Aston Villa.

Manchester Untied were left scrambling when their deal for Barcelona winger Pedro crumbled, but it apparently hasn’t taken long for them to find a new target.

Southampton and Senegal forward Saido Mane, 23, is among the players United have inquired about as Louis van Gaal looks to add more pace and firepower to his attack before the transfer window closes on Sept 1. But the Frenchman’s head had been turned sufficiently that it was an open secret he would get his move this summer, albeit to Old Trafford and not north London.

Staying with the Saints, the south coast club are battling Borussia Dortmund in a bid to secure a loan move for Reds winger Adnan Januzaj.

Speaking prior to tonight’s Europa League qualifier against FC Midtjylland, Koeman said: “We know what happens”.

“Hanging on to your top players is almost at the top of the list for every club, and it was Koeman who brought him in, so he won’t want to lose him on that account too”.

“Listen, there is no bid for any player”. Not for Sadio Mane, the same goes for Victor Wanyama. That we like because he was one of the players who creates good opportunities.

Mane could become the third Saints player to join United in the past two seasons, after Luke Shaw and Morgan Schneiderlin both made the switch.

However, more is still needed if they are to compete with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City in the race for the Premier League title.