Southampton believed they’d found their next Mane—then sold him for £11m less.

Southampton are hoping to survive this challenging Premier League season, aiming to reclaim their former status as an established top-flight club.

Before Russell Martin’s appointment following relegation, the Saints enjoyed some memorable seasons, including a sixth-place finish under Ronald Koeman in 2015/16. Back then, managers like Koeman and Mauricio Pochettino had their sights on European football, with a roster of standout players lighting up St. Mary’s.

Among these stars, Graziano Pelle and Dusan Tadic stood out as two talented foreign signings, with Pelle netting 23 goals and Tadic contributing 32 assists during their stints. Meanwhile, James Ward-Prowse made his name as a free-kick specialist, tallying an impressive 55 goals and 52 assists over 410 appearances. And of course, Sadio Mane remains fondly remembered for his 25 goals in 75 matches, paving his path to success at Liverpool.

Hopes were high in 2019 that Moussa Djenepo could be Southampton’s next Mane. Inspired by Mane, Djenepo aspired to emulate his style and impact on the wing. Yet, despite a promising start, the £14m signing struggled to deliver and was ultimately sold back to Standard Liege for just £3m.

While Mane became a Liverpool icon, Djenepo’s underwhelming spell left Southampton fans viewing him as a costly misfire rather than a Mane-esque success story.