According to several stories in the media this morning both Manchester United and City are gearing up to sign Sadio Mane.

Sadio Mane appears to be hot stuff if you believe the media this morning, despite the fact that he cannot sign for either of them for the best part of four months, the rumours are flying in the press.

United made no real obvious move to sign Mane in the January transfer window perhaps backing up claims that back in August Mane had been linked linked with a move to Old Trafford solely to deflect criticism aimed at Ed Woodward for losing Pedro to Chelsea.

The other fly in the ointment is that firstly United's manager next week let alone next season is far from certain, they will not have any firm transfer targets at present due to that uncertainty, likewise City with Pep Guardiola arriving in the summer they will be yet to firm up their strategy and I would be very surprised, given his stats, if Mane was on the list, Guardiola can shop at Harrods, he will not be in Lidl's

The real puzzle to Saints supporters though is just why either club, along with Chelsea if you believe the press would want to sign him.

Mane's popularity at the club isn't great at the moment, that is mainly due to the rumours, but even last season up until his hat trick against Aston Villa it wasn't exactly great last season.

The reason for that was that his performances !

This is why Saints fans are so puzzled, last season Mane was good value for his £12 million transfer fee given his 10 goal Premier League haul, but that figure was exaggerated by that hat trick, prior to that he had scored only twice in over three months and 12 games, without those three goals his record would be no more than average, indeed take out the three straight games he scored in over Xmas of that season and his goals were sporadic at best, the hat trick made it 10 goals in 30 games, without the hat trick 7 in 28 would mean worse than a 1 in 4 ratio.

This season has been no better in 22 starts plus 3 off the bench in the Premier League he has managed a mere 3 goals, that's a 1 in 8 game ratio, the last of these goals being against Liverpool back in October where he tapped home Gaston Ramirez header just as it was crossing the line anyway.

Since then absolutely nothing in 15 League games, although in fairness he has been good in most games to some degree, the fact is as a goal scoring striker he has been poor.

If any of the club's linked had scouts watching their reports would not be glowing, indeed at United he missed a glorious chance to put us ahead in the first half and he seems unable to get in meaningful shots these days, get him one on one with a defender or keeper and its woeful.

Despite all this I am not one of those who screams abuse at him, he is a decent player when he is on form and his confidence is up, but he is not of the standard that United, City or Chelsea would demand.

So this is why I am so puzzled myself as to why his name is continuously linked, I cannot believe that it is the club's themselves spreading the rumour, but when you then see that he is after a £125k a week deal, perhaps it makes it clearer that it is more likely Mane's agent leaking the news, he is probably keen to secure Mane a new deal if not elsewhere at St Mary's and is using the press to try and force Saints hand.

The problem he will have though is that after the last few months if the club were offered the fantastic sums of money that have been claimed to be about to change hands in his transfer fee, Saints would have snatched the buying club's hands off.

Saints strategy these days is simple, it is about knowing exactly what a player is worth, when they are offered far more than that worth, it is time to sell the player and get in a replacement far cheaper but with the potential to be as good as if not better than the departed player withing a short period of time.

Saints fans will not like to hear that, after all like most football fans they want to see players kept for long periods, but that is not how the game works these days, Saints have been one of the first to realise that, they know they can not compete with the big guns in terms of transfer fee's and wages, so they have to use another strategy to be able to do so.

Sadio Mane will be a part of that strategy, but I seriously doubt that he will go to one of the truly big club's.

Photo: Action Images

mgprobert added 10:15 - Feb 8 4 months is a long time - the media has to make something up to get those paper sales / website clicks....its a 24/7 game, with the main rules being think of a top 4 club, then make something up about someone leaving / arriving, throw in big money and the occasional hint of scandal
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perazi added 10:22 - Feb 8 Nick, you seriously underrate Sadio Mane. The raw statistic of 3 goals in 22 starts doesn't take account of the many assists and lead up play he has created leading to goals and the fact he has often been positioned on the right or left wing or as attacking midfielder behind the main striker - not natural goal scoring positions. I'll grant you he has been off the boil since his excellent performance against Arsenal on Boxing Day, but blind freddy can see the skill, pace and x-factor the lad has. I've got no doubt several big clubs will come in for him and he will be a big loss the Club even for a substantial fee.

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saintmark1976 added 10:29 - Feb 8 To me Mane has morphed into the modern day equivalent of Chicken George Lawrence. When he is on his game he is unplayable. When out of form he is not worthy of selection. The trouble is that until he gets on the pitch nobody,and I suspect not even himself, knows who is going to turn up. Having said that nobody can deny that he always puts in a shift. To suggest that he, or for that matter any player is worth £125000 a week is beyond me.However as long as people keep paying their T V subscriptions and clubs continue to increase prices season after season I don't suppose things will change any time soon.

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Scummer added 10:44 - Feb 8 He does have something special. But he is maddeningly inconsistent. Then again if Rooney is worth £300k a week the figure of £125k a week for Mane's wages doesn't sound quite as ludicrous. Which just goes to show how ludicrous the whole thing has become.
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SaintPaulVW added 10:46 - Feb 8 Agree MGProbert , given the upcoming management changes, file this under papers need selling. At the moment.
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halftimeorange added 10:53 - Feb 8 I like watching Mane. He can be thrilling at times and I can tolerate his current lean spell, the same as I could Pelle's last season and, in the past, Beattie's and others. But Sadio brings a bit more to the table than simply worrying defences - he tackles back and he works all game, like Shane Long. Frankly, I don't care who scores as long as we do. I'd rather have Mane in Saints team than, say Raheem Sterling with whom reasonable comparisons can be made - "He is blessed with natural pace that makes even the best defences and defenders take a step back." Look at the price he went for.

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IWOZTHERE added 11:02 - Feb 8 Limitless potential !!! I've said it a few times, but now I'm having a few doubts over just how far he can go. That's not to say he's not worth his place in the side, he's got rare speed and unpredictability...but the timing of his passes and his decision making is so erratic that he often confuses himself and his team-mates as much as he does the opposition. He reminds me very much of the ex Man U lad 'Chicarito'. I think I'd play him centrally again, as a 'loose cannon' with instructions to get in the box. Penalties galore! I've certainly been unhappy over the loss of our top players in the past for various reasons, but for some reason I feel differently about both Mane and VW. Certainly I was hoping VW would go in the window (he's covered),and I think we should take big money for Mane if we get the chance. There's big 'team spirit' building in the camp. Somehow I don't think these two are part of it.

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dirk_doone added 11:14 - Feb 8 He has been the key attacking threat in the team which has risen to 7th in the league. Unfortunately, some of our fans view both him and Wanyama with a certain amount of prejudice. Viewed with more objectivity, there are good reasons why Mane and Wanyama are the 2 players managers of teams above us covet.
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SonicBoom added 11:51 - Feb 8 Sounds like tosh to me. Two clubs both to fight for him when the likelihood is both will change their managers in the summer? How do the press know what their transfer targets will be. Probably Mane's agent as you say. I like him, he does have pace and is better than most quick players in that he is direct but that lack of end product can be frustrating. He has lost all confidence in front of goal at the moment. Then again there are loads of players that have pace but little end product which was what made someone like Giggs so special.

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Toussaint added 12:00 - Feb 8 Its obvious to see Mane is not happy for months now for whatever reason it has affected his form but he is still our best player .he is a winger that can score goals,so his stats should not be compared to a striker.I am still puzzled why Saints didnt roll out the red carpet/big fanfare for the lad when he broke Robbie Fowlers record,I would be pissed if I was him
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pintsizedsaint added 12:50 - Feb 8 There seems to be two different 'threads' going on in this comments section: 1. Has Mane got potential to be great and; 2. Is Mane a serious contender for bigger clubs. These two topics are quite different when it comes to clubs like Man U or Man City. Regardless of who is manager at Man Utd next season, the club's expectations will be to covet and recruit proven (and possibly world class) players in the key 'marque' positions. Likewise, with Pep joining Man City, their expectations of 'world class' will be even more concrete - given Pep can probably attract every 'galatico' out there and Man City have the cash to match his expectations. So - the question is - does Mane fit that profile? Is he a player with proven, consistent ability? Is he in the world class bracket? Sorry - but i doubt Pep has even heard of him. And so why would City be keen to sign him if he doesn't fit the bill of a 'worldie' already? Otherwise, Pep is likely to find somebody else when he arrives. Same with Man Utd i suspect - I don't think Mane would be matching the ambition of Man Utd's fans or board. Even more relevant is the other question: does Mane have the potential? Yes he does, but he's not proven it yet. His form is so inconsistent that it leaves a big question mark over whether a huge club would decide to take him on right now. Might be different if he was performing like Mahrez - but he isn't. Yet things can change in the summer - I could see a potential for Man U to see Mane as a useful squad player at a decent price - but other clubs know too well that Saints don't let their players go for cheap unless in last year of contract. Man U have had a recent history of spending silly money - but i strongly suspect (given their current form) that the Board would rather pay silly money for proven, consistent talent. They've probably got enough 'for the future' potential already. I'm sorry - but I just don't see Mane being in City's profile at all. And you cannot compare Mane with Sterling - who ripped up the premier league last season. So, i strongly suspect this paper talk. It is puzzling to think why the papers believe Mane's form and potential may make this a possibility.

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dirk_doone added 13:20 - Feb 8 Pintsized, Guardiola was interested in signing Mane for Bayern Munich, so he most certainly has heard of him: Guardiola a fan of Mane: http://www.goal.com/en/news/11/transfer-zone/2015/12/04/17997502/guardiola-a-fan http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3118144/Bayern-Munich-lining-S
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bstokesaint added 13:32 - Feb 8 He's a player who's hit a bit of a lean spell. As normal some fans are a bit too quick to get on one of our players' backs. Didn't he play that delightful little ball into Wanyama into the lead up of Yoshida's goal. It's not like he's not doing anything and there's no doubt his place terrorises defences. I think we need to give him a break and stop getting on his case. I thought it was a nice touch that all of the players and manager made a point of congratulating Yoshida before mentioning anything else about the game on Saturday. It shows the players understand the pressure he is under from the fans, and to me personally no player who wears our shirt should ever feel like that. For me personally the only time a player should get stick is if they don't try or they bring shame on the club.

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pintsizedsaint added 13:38 - Feb 8 Thanks Dirk - i remember the press linking Mane to Bayern but didn't know Pep had directly commented! Seems that Pep was asked a direct question about him following the press link. Of course, it all came to nothing. Time will tell i guess (is this the press remembering this previous link to Pep?) but i'm still unsure whether Mane fits Man City's profile - unless Mane suddenly shifts into gear and gets consistent!

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IWOZTHERE added 14:10 - Feb 8 If some are prejudiced Dirk, the players have brought it on themselves. As for them being coveted by top teams, you may be right but at the moment it's just 'paper talk'.
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davepid added 14:26 - Feb 8 Interesting debate . This year I saw him miss two very good chances away to Newcastle( he fell over) , failed to get on target in a one on one against Leicester at home, and fell over in front of goal against Arsenal away. Those three straightforward chances would have, if converted, gained us 6 points. For that reason alone I can't see why Manchester are interested. Cheers

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BoondockSaint added 14:37 - Feb 8 Well this is one Saints fan that is not puzzled. First of all, you can't teach speed, and he has the best acceleration I have ever seen, as soon as the ball touches his feet he's off at full speed. And as many above have mentioned, he's a complete player, scores, creates space, backtracks, and lays out perfectly weighted passes. Only trouble is Long or Pelle can make a meal of it. This won't happen with Aguero. If Les Reed has heard of him, you can bet Pep has too! He's probably already submitted his shopping list to ManCitihad's owners. ManU are being slagged as boring by media and fans. You can be sure he's on the list of the next manager (Jose?) No only do they need an exiting player, they need to keep him away from the noisy neighbours. I bet if you asked the fans of any Prem league what player would they would want their team to get from Saints it would be Mane.

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SaintBrock added 14:57 - Feb 8 Mane is getting away with murder. Everyone says what a great play 15 matches then yes I agree he is being inconsistent. I'll offer another take on him. He's been found out. PL defenders are some of the best in the world and know exactly how to deal with "fancy-dan" dribblers like Mane and Tadic. Keep them in front of you, don't go in for the early tackle, block their routes forward so that they are forced to run laterally across the pitch, then tackle them. Easy. What makes anybody believe he will be better at a bigger club where there is more competition for his place? The defenders will still be the same and their tactics will still be the same and his so-called inconsistency will not be tolerated to the same degree as it is here. Still if the lad just wants the dosh for sitting on the bench good luck to him.

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SaintBrock added 14:59 - Feb 8 Mane is getting away with murder. Everyone says what a great player he is but lacks consistency so if by inconsistency they mean being ineffective for 15 matches in a row then yes I agree he is being inconsistent. I'll offer another take on him. He's been found out. PL defenders are some of the best in the world and know exactly how to deal with "fancy-dan" dribblers like Mane and Tadic. Keep them in front of you, don't go in for the early tackle, block their routes forward so that they are forced to run laterally across the pitch, then tackle them. Easy. What makes anybody believe he will be better at a bigger club where there is more competition for his place? The defenders will still be the same and their tactics will still be the same and his so-called inconsistency will not be tolerated to the same degree as it is here. Still if the lad just wants the dosh for sitting on the bench good luck to him. Please ignore the first post.

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IWOZTHERE added 20:47 - Feb 8 Sorry Boondock but you must have been watching a different player to me? I've not slagged him off, he's a valuable player, but how valuable is the question? Fraid your description of him as 'a complete player' , with the best will in the world, is bizarre!
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helpineedsomebody added 21:56 - Feb 8 this man could join any top 4 side in europe if saints get the required 62 million poundsfor him good luck & thank you what i dont understand why saints from next season onwards why they will not pay him what he is worth . next season the new epl contract comes in to play 8.3billion pounds for the next 3 years thats double what the last contract was worth so saints will be getting OVER 200MILLION POUNDS PER SEASON SO ARE YOU TELLING ME they cant afford to pay him 125 000 pounds per week net from next season onwards under the old mans watch it was spend spend spend now under the young ladys watch its save save save . in business if you dont want to pay income tax you have to invest or you pay hmrc a lot of tax lets hope they invest in the fans upgrade stmarys

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IWOZTHERE added 21:00 - Feb 9 62m is a fantasy. I'm all for 'upping' our top players' wages SENSIBLY if it means we are more competitive in that respect but the bottom line is that he's currently not worth 125k a week or 6.5 m a year. Let him prove his worth first then I might agree with you 'helpinneed'.
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Jesus_02 added 14:48 - Feb 10 we are currently 7th. Both Mane and Vic are two of our best players. No fan should want either of them to go. We need to stand by our guns more. Otherwise if we do want to sell a player we will only get the minimum. Our early "Big Sales" only reflected that we where not a selling club.
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