Fiorentina have joined Liverpool in the hunt for Southampton forward Sadio Mane, according to the Italian TV channel TGR Rai Toscana (via tuttomercatoweb.com). The Viola’s new sporting director Pantaleo Corvino wants to make a marquee signing for the Serie A side but he faces a number of obstacles if he is to seal a deal for the Senegalise international.
The Saints have reportedly slapped a £40million price tag on the forward and with Liverpool and Manchester United among others tracking the 24 year old, Fiorentina will face an uphill task to match any bid from the Premier League sides.
Mane did not have the best of seasons for the Saints. Despite finishing with 11 league goals, eight of them came in the last eight games, and after scoring a goal in early December against Liverpool in a 6-1 defeat in the Capital One Cup, he went three months without scoring a goal. In addition, the impending departure of manager Ronald Koeman to Everton will mean any decision on a sale will be delayed until a new boss is appointed.
