Southampton could be a lot keener in cashing in on Sadio Mane than they would care to admit as rumours of a move to Liverpool get stronger.
On paper Sadio Mane has a reasonable set of statistics for Saints, however analysis of those statistics aligned with having watched the player in most of his games would suggest a different story.
Both of Mane's seasons at Saints have seen him go through long periods where he did not score wit only a late hat trick near the end of the season making his goal scoring figures look reasonable.
That was the case last season where his 11 goal in 30(7) looked a good figure, however he went over five months without scoring in the Premier League, a period that ncluded a lot more indifferent games than ones where he truly looked quality.
That goal scoring figure was, like the season before boosted with a late flourish, 6 goals came in the last 5 games, indeed 8 in the last 8 and although that ultimately pushed Saints into 6th spot, the feeling was that they could have achieved that or higher a lot earlier had Mane scored regularly between October and March when he went five months without a goal.
Therefore it seems Saints know the value of Mane to the team and if they can prise over £30 million from someone for Mane that will be good business.
Manchester United were never interested and even less so now Jose Mourinho is in charge at Old Trafford, but it seems Liverpool are and Saints are rumoured to be interested in a deal at the prices being quoted.
Some reports say the two clubs are already in talks, although that may be a little premature.
Saints strategy these days is that every player has a price and the same of Mane along with the £16 million or so already brought in from the departures of Koeman and Wanyama would give us a great transfer kitty, that would mean that again we could replace those two players with not only two of equal stature, but perhaps some change left over to strengthen the squad in other areas.
Ths is the Southampton way, we cannot compete with the spending power both in transfer fees and wages of at least 6 clubs in the Premier League, possibly 8 if you add Everton and West Ham, but we have shown that by taking a different strategy that just throwing money at every problem that we can compete and be successful.