IT was only a matter of time that Liverpool came sniffing around St Mary’s Stadium once again in the transfer market.

And now the Anfield outfit could spark up interest in a SEVENTH Saints player in just three years.

Although an official bid is yet to be made, Jurgen Klopp’s side, who finished two places below Saints and will not be playing in European football next term, are big admirers of Sadio Mane.

The 23-year-old, who finished as Saints’ 15-goal leading scorer last term and is under contract until 2018, is the latest in a string of Saints players that Liverpool have shown an interest in.

It was under Brendan Rogers, the newly appointed Celtic manager, that the Merseysiders began their almost shameless pursuit of the services of St Mary’s’ finest.

In the summer of 2014, the Reds made it a hat-trick of Saints stars incoming during one summer.

Around the time Ronald Koeman took charge on the South Ccoast, Rodgers participated in their most prolific run of Saints rustling.

On June 2, 2014, the Reds snapped up Saints legend Rickie Lambert for £4m, and a month later they took captain Adam Lallana in a £25m deal.

They completed their hat-trick on July 27, 2014, when DejanLovren, now much-loathed by the St Mary’s faithful, also headed to Anfield in a £20m deal.

In the summer of 2015 the Reds took their Saints shopping spree to an astonishing £61.5m when Nathaniel Clyne also made the switch.

Many thought that when Rodgers was replaced with Klopp in October last year that they might stop head hunting Saints stars.

But Klopp has been linked with both Shane Long and Fraser Forster, before interest in Mane was made public.

This latest link comes as Klopp attempts to find an alternative to Bayern Munich’s Mario Gotze and it is understood that Mane, who signed from Red Bull Saltzburg for £10m in 2014,suits the German manager’s pressing style.

It is expected that any bid will be met with firm resistance by Saints and, being that Mane’s contract runs for another two seasons, it might take a colossal bid to even get the attentions of the St Mary’s bean counters.

Mane has scored 25 times in 75 appearances so far and has been rated at around £25m.

The Senegalese international, who scored four times in three games against Liverpool last season, has been heavily linked with Manchester United - but that interest may cool now Jose Mourinho has been confirmed as manager at Old Trafford.

The former Chelsea boss will certainly have his own targets, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic high on the agenda. But Mane, on the face of it, doesn’t suit the Portuguese’s style of play, which demands his attackers to commit to defensive duties.