United sources insist that their continued strong interest in Mane is one of the significant reasons why they did not sign Pedro from Barcelona with the 28-year-old Spanish worldwide yesterday completing his pounds 21.4?million to Chelsea after their late swoop.
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Mane hit 45 goals in just 87 games at Red Bull Salzburg, which is quite impressive.
It is claimed that Van Gaal was not willing to meet Pedro’s £21.5million clause which is why they shifted their focus to Mane even though executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward had given the 64-year-old the go-ahead to sign the Spaniard.
United are still expected to be active in the current window with at least one new signing and although Southampton will stand strong with Mane, every player has his price.
SOUTHAMPTON (3-4-2-1): Stekelenburg 6; Yoshida 6, Fonte 8, Caulker 7; Soares 6, Romeu 6, Wanyama 6, Targett 6; S Davis 6 (Ward-Prowse 72, 5), Mane 6 (Long 26, 5); Pelle 6 (Rodriguez 79, 5).
The Senegalese wideman has been the subjected of an enquiry, according to the Old Trafford club, something Southampton deny.
United maintain that they walked away from the Pedro deal, on van Gaal’s say-so, rather than it a case of being outbid by Chelsea.
“I don’t want to interfere”. Mane scored 10 goals for Southampton – including the fastest hat-trick in Premier League history.
Koeman has seen a host of first-team regulars depart St Mary’s since his appointment last summer, with Morgan Schneiderlin and Nathaniel Clyne leaving this year after Rickie Lambert, Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren and Calum Chambers all departed 12 months ago.
Van Gaal allowed Angel Di Maria to leave United after joining them a year before from Real Madrid. “He’s been very good for us”, said the Saints legend.
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United, meanwhile, have turned their attention to Mane.
