West Ham United Targeting Sadio Mane ! But Why ? Friday, 29th Jan 2016 10:33 With Manchester United's interest in Sadio Mane seemingly none existent, a new suitor for the Saints striker has appeared. From the beginning I have always been sceptical about Manchester United's interest in Sadio Mane, back in August it appeared to be no more of a smokescreen as United executive Ed Woodward looked to make it appear that he had not blundered in losing Pedro to Chelsea and that he was in charge of the situation. United having interest in Mane made good copy throughout the months in between transfer windows when transfer news is nothing more than speculation made up by journalists and agents trying to engineer moves for players. That is why it is no surprise that rumours of Mane to Old Trafford have subsided since the start of the transfer window opened rather than increased as quite simply the interest doesn't seem to be there. The big surprise though is that now the media are suggesting that West Ham United are about to launch a bid, or is this really a surprise ? The answer is a resounding No ! for two reasons ! The first reason and in no particular order is that Hammers owner David Gold seems to have had a bee in his bonnet about Saints capture of Charlie Austin, whether Gold thought he had that deal signed sealed and delivered and is raging because Saints nicked the player from under him is unclear, however it was strange that he contacted the press to express his disquiet when on the surface it didn't appear to concern him. The second reason is perhaps not unusual, although the fact that it is Saints and Mane could have something to do with Gold's discontent with the Austin deal, West Ham moving to the Olympic Stadium in the summer will want to make a statement of intent, they have plenty of seats to fill and even though this is relatively cheap for them in the fact they are moving to a tax payer funded stadium, they still have big overheads. Letting their supporters know they now intend to be major players by stirring up press speculation is nothing new, Spurs are accused of it in virtually every transfer window. But it is a big co-incidence that it is Saints and Mane only days after Gold's spat to the press. Gold has a certain reputation in football and many football supporters see him as a rather seedy individual given that he has made his money from an empire of sex related shops, he is seen as someone who is quick to fire off his mouth and indeed after criticising the new owners of Birmingham City after his departure from that club, he had to issue an apology on West Ham's own website. So it is all a little too much of a coincidence that West Ham United should be now chasing a player who at the bottom end of the valuation would be £25 million and if you believe that United were willing to pay this, £60 million ! It has all the hallmarks of a classic attempt to unsettle a player who is way out of their normal price range even if we take the low cost of £25 million. Saints have stated that Mane will be going nowhere in January and that resolve has not looked like being seriously tested so far, however if David Gold is willing to pay £40 million for him I think most Saints fans would drive him to East London themselves, no offence to Sadio Mane meant, but his value to Saints although being far higher than the £12 million we spent on him, is not up there in that superstar transfer fee bracket . Sadio Mane has received criticism of late from some Saints fans and his impact has been little in January, however that has not been because of a lack of effort, indeed the opposite as Ronald Koeman has suggested, sometimes you can just try a little too hard and nothing comes off. Mane has pace and that often flatters to deceive, on his day he can be unplayable, but his day is far too infrequent for a truly big club to want to sign him, hence why I have never taken the Manchester United interest that seriously, however West Ham have a statement to make and if they are willing to pay far far over the odds we might just well take it. Photo: Action Images Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.
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