After failing in their pursuit of Barcelona forward Pedro Rodriguez, allowing Chelsea to agree a £21million deal with the Spaniard, Manchester United have turned their attentions to another winger.
BBC Sport have confirmed that the Red Devils made an official bid for Southampton‘s Saido Mane last week.
According to The Guardian, Louis van Gaal ‘instructed’ Ed Woodward, the club’s executive vice-chairman, to table an offer for the Senegal international after the deal to bring Pedro to Old Trafford collapsed – which has subsequently seen Chelsea capitalise on their failure to clinch his signature.
The figure that United have offered the Saints has not yet been revealed, but he is expected to be valued at around £15million having been brought to the St Mary’s Stadium in an £11.8million deal on transfer deadline day only last summer.
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Manchester United transfer gossip
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Mane has scored 10 goals in 32 appearances for Southampton, and made history in his debut Premier League campaign after scoring the fastest ever hat-trick in England’s top flight in their 6-1 victory over Aston Villa in May.