Manchester United Transfer News: Sadio Mane Deal Expected Despite Neymar Rumours

Manchester United have yet to give up in their pursuit of Southampton winger Sadio Mane and are still hopeful of finalising a deal before the window closes, despite continued links to Barcelona’s Neymar.

That's according to the Sun (h/t Jonathan Green of the Daily Star), which wrote that the Red Devils have not been put off by Saints’ insistence that the player is not for sale and will look to complete a £20 million transfer before Tuesday's deadline. It’s also claimed in the piece that work is still being done in an attempt to land the Brazil superstar as well.

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At this stage of the season, bringing in Neymar is a fanciful proposition. Not only would the Barcelona man cost an enormous amount, a staggering £140 million according to Brazilian news outlet Globo Esporte (h/t Daily Mirror), but he’s key to his current side’s cause and has the potential to become the very best player in world football.

Spanish football expert Sergi Dominguez doesn’t think a deal for the Brazil skipper is feasible for the Red Devils:

Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe ran the rule over the prospect of United getting a deal done for Neymar in the latter stages of the window:

Mane is certainly a more realistic proposition. The Senegal international has shown flashes of brilliance during his time in the Premier League, and he has been deployed in a variety of attacking-midfield positions. In a United side that has looked a little one-dimensional at times this season, the Saints man would certainly add a raw attacking edge.

As we can see here courtesy of Squawka Football, Mane is a player who loves to pick the ball up and drive at opposition players:

With long-term United target Pedro opting to join Chelsea, per Sky Sports (h/t the Guardian), it’s left the Red Devils with a thin spread of attacking options. Granted, Memphis Depay is a player who has showcased early signs that he can go on to be a star, while Juan Mata is getting back to a level approaching his best too. But there’s still a lack of variety in attacking areas.

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It means that if a key attacking component suffers an injury or a loss of form, as is the case with Wayne Rooney at the moment, the team feels the impact, per OptaJoe:

Mane doesn’t strike as the optimal solution to the team’s attacking woes, though. Of course, he has the pace and trickery to cause any defence in the Premier League problems, but it’s rare we’ve seen those attributes consistently intertwined with a composed head in dangerous areas and a considered final ball.

It’s a deal that would do little to sate the ambitions of a lot of United supporters and if £20 million was to be splashed on the 23-year-old, it’d leave many wondering why a similar amount wasn't sanctioned to bring in Pedro. Sadly, a late pursuit of Mane would reek of desperation on the part of the Red Devils and while he'd add depth, the Senegal star is not of the quality required.