SAINTS are lining up West Bromwich Albion star Saido Berahino as a replacement for Sadio Mane, according the Express and Star.

With Saints having a new influx of funds to delve into following the £34m departure of Mane to Liverpool, reports say their first port of call is to try and lure Berahino from the Baggies.

Stoke have already shown an interest in the 22-year-old Englishman, with a £16m fee said to be enough to get the attentions of the Hawthorns outfit.

However, despite the Potters interest, sources close to Berahino suggest that he’d be open to a move to St Mary’s, according to the Express and Star report.

Saints, although still managerless, have still pushed ahead with the signing of long-term target Nathan Redmond, who arrived in a £10m deal from Norwich City.

Berahino would be a signing in the similar ilk of Redmond, with both of them being young and English.

Certainly, it would suit Saints' policy of buying in youthful talent.

The Burundi-born attacker has played at England youth international level through all age groups and graduated from West Brom’s youth programme in 2010.

He played 37 times for West Brom last season, scoring seven goals.

With several parties interested, Albion are understood to be happy to let a bidding war drive the price up.

Crystal Palace, Watford and the Potters are all said to be interested in Berahino, but Saints are arguably the most enticing prospect, considering they can offer European football.