The Telegraph: The quiet success of Southampton, who can now afford to keep stars like Sadio Mané

Courtesy of Sam Wallace, the chief football writer for The Telegraph.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football...southampton-who-can-now-afford-to-keep-star/?

Main bits of info from that story:

1. Anyone wanting to buy Sadio will have to make it our biggest ever sale (so more than the £31.5m we sold Shaw for)

2. Victor will be allowed to leave but only if we recoup our initial outlay of £12m

3. Nobody is for sale

4. Saints didn't even bother having a meeting to discuss the Koeman/Everton rumours

5. Would be no surprise if Koeman extends his contract soon

DTLW

 

Do you know if any of that is actually based on information from within the club, such as us wanting £40m for mane and minimum £12m for Wanyama. Or is it all just the writers opinion that, that is what saints would want?

 

Club stance.

 

Yep. I knew about the Mane part (well that it would take a huge bid). Not the Wanyama part, glad we want to recoup our money on him.

 

Does Poch really want Victor?

 

Haven't a clue now. Not really heard much transfer info. I could see why he would want him, but then would have thought they could get some one better.

 

It depends on Spur's real ambitions. If they really want to be challenging for the Premiership title and Champions League then they should be looking for better than Victor but if they just want to be challenging for top four then he will do them a job however, as shown at the home game against them last season Dembele bullied Victor off the park

 

Doubt they want him to be first choice but I can definitely see Spurs wanting Wanyama as a squad option.

 

Sorry am I misreading this - 12 million for Wanyama ?

 

Yeah, I'd want at least double that!!

 

Not really with a year remaining on his contract...

 

I hope we can get 15.

 

£12m is what we paid for Victor, and we'd be getting that back. Anyone thinking you'll get £20m for someone who's totally free in 12 months' time is living on a different planet.

(One I wouldn't mind living on, but one that doesn't exist )

 

Oh, yeah, forgot that

 

Transfer fees are sort of weird and I'm convinced their are clubs out there who don't have a clue how to value players (meaning good deals are there to be had). Actual ability seems to account for about 20% of it. It also means stats like team x cost half as much as team y can be summarily ignored.

If we'd have got £20m for Vic last year, then not selling him "cost" £8m, on top of his salary. If that was the difference between 6th and 8th then it was a good decision.

 

I would still hope to make a profit, even if modest.

 

£12.2m

 

Hardly shocking we want to recoup our money on him though is it. Still good news is good news!

 

I'd hope for closer to £20m than £12m for Vic. He's got a few years experience in the PL now and is still young. Everyone's loaded now too. £12m in today's market is peanuts for a player like Vic.

 

That was my impression too