AMID continued transfer speculation Sadio Mane has revealed that he is hoping that Saints can build another great team for next season as they head into the Europa League for a second successive campaign.

It remains to be seen whether the club’s 15-goal top-scorer will remain at St Mary’s following continued speculation regarding a move to Manchester United.

However, the 24-year-old’s mind seemed far from Old Trafford after another record-breaking season in the Premier League with Saints.

“The most important thing is we are a team and hopefully we will build a great team like this season,” he said. “We will prepare for our national team games and after we will see what happens for next season.”

One of the club’s hottest properties added that he hopes Saints are able to have an extended campaign in the Europa League after last year's early exit. 

 “It’s amazing because every footballer has ambition to reach European football," he said. "We are so happy and hopefully we are going to do much better in the Europa League."

Mane, who joined Saints from Red Bull Saltzburg for in September 2014 for around £10m, ended the campaign with eight goals in eight games, including a hat-trick in the sensational 4-2 win over Manchester City.

A beaming Mane, who has always waved away links to a switch to United and maintained his happiness at Saints, was clearly proud of what had been achieved at St Mary’s.

“We are so happy,” he said. “At the beginning our ambition was to get European football and today we are really happy. We are really proud and I hope everyone is happy, especially the fans.”

“We are just happy because I think it was an amazing season. We are just so happy like we always are when we win games.”

Mane now links up with Senegal to play in African Cup of Nations qualifiers before heading on holiday.

“I have national team for two weeks and then I have holiday. Since I have been a professional, I have always played after the end of the season,” he said.