Manchester United is reportedly interested in acquiring the services of Sadio Mane from Southampton.
With a move for Pedro hijacked by Chelsea, Daily Mail is reporting that United has contacted Saints about a possible move for Mane, and made a $24 million bid last week. Louis van Gaal has already bought Luke Shaw and Morgan Schneiderlin from Southampton to handle defensive responsibilities, and now he is seeking to add some offense.
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Mane was highly impressive in his debut Premier League season last year after moving to St. Mary’s from Red Bull Salzburg scoring ten goals on the year, highlighted by his three-minute hat trick against Aston Villa, the fastest in PL history. The Senegalese international has already scored for Saints in the Europa League, and manager Ronald Koeman will likely be very hesitant to sell one of his top talents.
After failing to score in either of their opening two Premier League fixtures, Bournemouth has been linked with a possible move for striker Jermain Defoe. Defoe only joined Sunderland last January after a stint in MLS with Toronto FC, but according to The Guardian, Eddie Howe is keen to bring the goalscorer to the south coast. Defoe enjoyed a highly successful loan spell at Bournemouth as a teenager, scoring 18 goals in 27 matches, including a run of ten straight games with a goal. Now 32, Defoe’s vast experience would help a Cherries side in it’s first ever campaign in the Premier League. The England striker is the 11th all-time highest goalscorer in Premier League history, with 129 goals to his name.
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Steve McClaren continues to make moves at Newcastle as the Magpies are set to sign Florian Thauvin from Ligue 1 side Marseille. Thauvin underwent a medical and the move is expected to be completed for around $19 million. As part of the deal, Remy Cabella will be sent to Marseille on a season-long loan. Thauvin is a 22-year-old winger with a very high ceiling, thought of to be one of the most promising young talents in Europe.
