Saints act to beat Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs to wonderkid as Man Utd line up bid for Mane

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman is reported to have made a £50,000 bid for Luke Thomas

SOUTHAMPTON have launched a bid of £50,000 for Cheltenham wonderkid Luke Thomas, according to reports.

 

The attacker, 16, is being tracked by the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham but Saints have acted first with an official bid.

And The Gloucestershire Echo, who claim Benfica are also tracking him, say Ronald Koeman's side are now in pole position to sign him.

Thomas has made the bench for National League Cheltenham on four occasions this season - once in the league and three times in the FA Cup - but is yet to make his first-team debut.

 

He has scored 14 goals for the under-18s side this term, including six strikes in the FA Youth Cup.

If Thomas does move to St Mary's he would follow in the footsteps of Christer Warren, who left the Robins for the Saints in 1995.

Manager Koeman may well be looking to add reinforcements as interest in a number of his stars at St Mary's increases, with transfer window on the horizon.

 

Manchester United are understood to be lining up a January bid for Sadio Mane, 23, after failing to land him in the summer.

While Thomas is unlikely to be a direct replacement, he might represent a long-term alternative for a side accustomed to losing their best players.

Graziano Pelle, 30, is another who's future remains uncertain, with the Italian linked to Old Trafford or a return to Italy with Juventus.