Manchester United set for January swoop on Premier League hot shot
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The sheer abundance of transfer speculation doing the rounds in modern football – even with the window closed – never ceases to amaze and today is no exception with Manchester United linked with a Premier League striker.
Quite why a Spanish newspaper would have inside information on why a Dutch manager in Manchester would be desperate to recruit a Senegal international with experience playing in France, Austria and England is anyone’s guess but that hasn’t stopped Fichajes claiming Louis van Gaal is poised to pounce on Southampton’s Sadio Mane in the New Year.
According to the news provider United had been keeping tabs on the 23-year-old but decided to make him a priority when the window opens after the striker’s starring display in the Saints’ recent 3-1 win over champions Chelsea.
Mane scored just two goals in 23 appearances for Metz at the start of his career but this did not prevent Red Bull Salzburg taking a punt on the youngster and the gamble paid dividends, with a haul of 45 goals from just 87 appearances.
The Senegal hit-man has not faltered in the Premier League since arriving in England either, with 14 goals from his 43 games so far.
United have invested heavily in their attack of late, with the £36m arrival of Anthony Martial from Monaco hitting the headlines over the summer.
However, Martial aside an ageing and increasingly goal-shy Wayne Rooney remains the only other senior striker at the club, with youngster James Wilson the only viable back-up.
The Red Devils lost Javier Hernandez, Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao from last season’s squad and if the Old Trafford club are to boost their numbers in a bid to deliver on title odds of 6/1 then the arrival of Mane could be just what they need.
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