Okay, the transfer window only close just over two weeks ago but the rumor mill is already churning.
Yep, this never stops.
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A report in the Daily Mirror has suggested that Southampton could be looking to offload Sadio Mane, 23, this summer with the Senegalese forward said to be interesting both Manchester United and Manchester City. The report claims Saints would be looking for around $45 million for Mane who has scored 17 goals in 61 total appearances for Saints since arriving in August 2014 from Red Bull Salzburg. Mane has hit a lean spell this season and has failed to score in his last 12 outings for Ronald Koeman’s side which has seen him move to the bench amid Saints’ formation switch that has seen him pushed to the fringes.
His pace is electrifying though, and with incoming Man City boss Pep Guardiola said to be interested in signing Mane for Bayern Munich in the past, perhaps he ends up at City? That said, United inquired about Mane in the summer and then again in January but Saints refused to sell. Will the Red Devils’ long-term pursuit finally pay off this summer? Expect a bidding war between the two Manchester teams, per the report. Let’s wait and see...
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United are also said to be eyeing another forward as the same publication claims Borussia Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will be the subject of a $90 million offer this summer. Aubameyang, 26, is seen as being on the cusp of stardom and was recently crowned African Player of the Year. Arsenal were said to be extremely interested in the Gabon international but given the huge transfer fee involved, United’s riches could tempt the French born striker to switch the Bundesliga for the Premier League. United certainly need someone to help score goals and Aubameyang can play both through the middle and out wide. He’s scored 71 goals in 125 games since joining Dortmund in 2013 from Saint-Etienne.
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With all of these rumored arrivals at United, that of course means plenty of players will be shipped out. One of which is Juan Mata, according to the Daily Star.
Mata, 27, is said to be one of the players Jose Mourinho wants to get rid of first if he is handed the job at Old Trafford this summer as is widely expected. Mourinho sold Mata from Chelsea to United and now it seems like the Spanish playmaker could be heading back to La Liga with Atletico Madrid rumored to be interested in a $35 million deal. Louis van Gaal has failed to get the very best out of Mata during the last 18 months but his productivity has been decent with 22 goals in 85 games since arriving from Chelsea for a then club record fee of $58 million. However, if United can’t offer Mata UEFA Champions League action next season then perhaps he’ll want a move to a club who could: Atleti.
The crux of all this can be summed up by one sentence: Expect a busy summer in Manchester.