From Muller to Mane?

Louis Van Gaal has been linked throughout the summer with bolstering his United squads fire power with the likes of Muller, Ibrahimovic and up until recently Pedro, which is why many reds supporters may be surprised with the newest name the Dutchman has been rumoured to be interested in.

Mane celebrates scoring for the Saints

Saido Mane of Southampton is now apparently the mystery striker that Van Gaal had in mind. Upon teasing the press earlier this summer by claiming the striker he had in mind was indeed a 'surprise', many people would've called you daft to even consider having Mane as a target, considering the big names Manchester United are accustom to having in their strikeforce: The Rooney's, Van Persie's and Falcaos.

In his debut Premier league season, Mane managed 10 goals from 32 games including setting the record for the leagues fastest hat-trick. The 23 year old hasn't exactly set the world alight, since arriving from Salzburg at the start of last season, however his pace and flexibility to play upfront as a striker, out wide on either wing or just in behind the striker, might just have tickled Van Gaals fancy, especially as he is known for preferring "Multifunctional players over specialists"

Could Man Utd have gotten Muller?

"Whether we can win the title is dependable if we can buy players with speed and creativity" said Louis Van Gaal earlier this summer and whilst Mane certainly fits the bill of excellent pace, fans may question whether he has the quality to compete at a club like Manchester United and supply goals regularly. Additionally with the apparent 'loss of interest' in Barcelona star Pedro, who had certainly proved himself with the current European champions,as well as the highly rumoured interest in Bayern Munich star man Thomas Muller, the pressure may be on Louis Van Gaal, especially if Saido Mane, if bought, doesn't deliver.