Mane to force move from Southampton as Chelsea join race

Rob Conlon
Sadio Mane: Forward a target for giant trio of clubs

Sadio Mane: Forward a target for trio of giant clubs

Sadio Mane is trying to force a transfer away from Southampton after Chelsea and Bayern Munich joined the race to sign the forward, reports suggest.

Senegal international Mane is understood to be one of Manchester United’s main transfer targets this month after the Red Devils had a bid for the 23-year-old rejected in the summer.

And according to the Daily Mirror, Premier League champions Chelsea and Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich have now expressed an interest in Mane, who is itching to leave St Mary’s.

The former Red Bull Salzburg star’s contract expires in 2018 and he has told Southampton he will not sign a new deal.

Saints will reportedly only sell Mane, who has three goals and six assists in 17 league starts this term, for £30million but are adamant neither he nor Victor Wanyama – a target for Arsenal – will leave this January.

However, they are prepared to sell in the summer to ensure their market value does not decrease.

Manager Ronald Koeman dropped Mane from his starting XI for the defeat at Norwich City, where Wanyama was also sent off, and publicly criticised the duo’s indiscipline after the match.