In the wake of recent events it is not surprising that Saints are already lining up a replacement for Sadio Mane for when he leaves.
Saints are likely to cash in on Sadio Mane but the reality is that it is more likely to be in the summer than in this transfer window.
If they receive a bid in excess of £25 million for the Senegalese striker then they would consider it good business for a player who although on his day can be electric, too often fails to deliver on a regular basis.
Back in August Mane to United was a smokescreen in the media perpetuated by United themselves to deflect criticism from the fact they had failed to land big name targets like Pedro who was snatched from under their noses by Chelsea.
The knock on effect of that is that Mane's stature in the game is far above the actual reality and Saints would see selling him at a grossly inflated price as good business.
The media is now throwing up all sorts of names as a replacement and the latest to be linked is not new but a name linked since the summer, Sebastien Haller of Utrecht.
The French striker only joined Utrecht in January last year on loan, but he scored 11 goals in 17 games and was voted player of the year by the supporters, so far this year he has hit 11 in 16 and that is getting interest from the Premier League.
But for the media to suggest he is a replacement for Mane is perhaps a little off the mark, at 6ft 2 he would be more in the mould of Pelle than Mane, however Saints could be looking to shuffle the pack and gibe options, certainly if Rodriguez was to return this month, Koeman would have 3 wide attacking options other than Mane and that could increase if he also manages to capture a winger.
This could mean that Saints might be willing to let Mane go at the right price, however I am far from convinced that the big names chasing Mane according to the press are actually that interested, to be blunt his stats and performances do not add up to a player that would improve their sides.
Haller could be a good fit for Saints and at £7.5 million would be a gamble worth taking, but I expect that gamble to be n the summer rather than now.