Sadio Mane added a few extra pounds to his price tag with a scintillating display that inspired Southampton to a 4-2 win over Champions League semifinalists Manchester City on Sunday to keep his side's European dream alive.
With the top Premier League clubs hard at work on their summer shopping lists, Mane chose the perfect moment to score his second Premier League hat trick, and against an under-strength City, no less. If Mane can maintain this kind of performance level on a consistent basis, manager Ronald Koeman knows he will face an uphill task to keep the £30 million-rated ace.
The match was also memorable for in-form Shane Long, whose first-half opener means he has now scored 10 Premier League goals in a single season for the first time in his career. The victory means Southampton go into their final two games of another impressive season (against Tottenham on Sunday and Crystal Palace on the last day) knowing they can still finish in the Europa League places.
Player ratings: (1-10; 10=best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating):
GK Fraser Forster, 6 -- Won the bragging rights over his England Euro 2016 rival Joe Hart. Made one excellent save to deny Raheem Sterling when the match was delicately poised at 0-0 but was helpless to keep out either of City's goals.
DF Cuco Martina, 6 -- Had not put a foot wrong before gifting Kelechi Iheanacho his first goal with a horribly miscued clearance. Regained his composure and was relatively untroubled for the rest of the match.
DF Virgil van Dijk, 7 -- Superb in both penalty boxes. Kept Wilfried Bony in his pocket and was a constant threat from set pieces, heading against the crossbar in the build-up to Mane's second goal.
DF Jose Fonte, 6 -- Had a difficult afternoon against the talented Iheanacho, who was the one shining light for City.
DF Ryan Bertrand, 7 -- Kept Samir Nasri quiet, although Bertrand allowed the Frenchman to cross in the build-up to Iheanacho's first goal. Comfortably had the upper hand on Pablo Zabaleta going forward, epitomised by one mazy left-wing run early in the proceedings.
MF Victor Wanyama, 7 -- At his dominant best in the middle of the park. Completely outshone Fernandinho, who has been one of City's better players in recent weeks.
MF Jordy Clasie, 8 -- Arguably his best display in a Southampton shirt. Helped Wanyama and Steven Davis run the midfield and was responsible for a sumptuous through-ball to set Long clear on goal in the first half.
MF Sadio Mane, 9 -- Showed just why England's elite clubs have the Senegalese international on their radar. City's makeshift defence could not handle his blistering bursts of pace and he showed great composure in front of goal. Clinical.
MF Steven Davis, 8 -- Would not be out of place in the midfield of City or any of their top four rivals.
MF Dusan Tadic, 9 -- Second only to Mane in the man of the match stakes. The Serbian seems to have been spurred into producing his best form by rumours of a rift with Ronald Koeman. Claimed three assists, with his delicious flick for Long's opener the pick of the crop.
FW Shane Long 8 -- Another outstanding display of front-running from Southampton's man of the moment. Showed greater desire than the cumbersome Nicolas Otamendi to toe-poke in the opener and didn't give the hapless Argentine a moment's peace.
Substitutes
MF Oriol Romeu, 6 (on for Clasie, 60") -- Replaced the impressive Clasie and kept Southampton on the front foot.
MF James Ward-Prowse, NR (on for Davis, 73") -- Enjoyed the freedom he was afforded as City pushed forward in search of a comeback late on.
FW Jay Rodriguez, NR (on for Tadic, 87") -- No time to make any significant impact.