Southampton insist Manchester United target Sadio Mane is not for sale. In a surprise development, United sources claimed on Wednesday that the club made a bid to sign Mane last week.
Southampton deny any offer has been submitted for the Senegalese winger, but a spokesman for the south-coast club said Mane is “not for sale” anyway.
Despite making five signings this summer, United manager Louis van Gaal believes his squad lack pace and creativity, and Mane certainly has both those qualities in abundance.
Southampton signed the 23-year-old from Red Bull Salzburg last summer for £10million.
In his first year at Saints he scored 10 goals in 32 appearances, including the fastest hat-trick in Premier League history in the 6-1 win over Aston Villa.
The move for the player still comes as something of a surprise, however.
United were reported to be close to the capture of Barcelona forward Pedro last week, but it emerged on Wednesday the club had pulled out of the running to sign the 28-year-old.
Sources at Old Trafford claim Van Gaal decided to abandon a bid to sign the Canary Islander after doubts emerged regarding whether he wanted to move to the 20-time English champions.
Pedro now looks set to move to Chelsea instead.
Meanwhile, Newcastle boss Steve McClaren is happy the club have finally got their man after signing Marseille winger Florian Thauvin on a five-year contract.
The 22-year-old Frenchman came through a medical on Wednesday and committed to the club until 2020.
hauvin was identified as a potential signing by chief scout Graham Carr more than two years ago and the club has been monitoring his situation since.
The former England manager said: “Florian is a player the club have been watching for a long time and I am delighted that we have been able to sign him.
“He is a perfect signing for this club - someone who is young, with great potential and is one of the best young players in Europe. He is an exciting, creative talent who can score goals and make assists, and we believe he will have a very bright future at Newcastle.”
