Southampton defender Yan Valery admits Liverpool striker Sadio Mane had a big influence on his move to St Mary's.

Valery justed penned a new deal with Saints in the last week.

And he revealed to iNews: "Several clubs asked me for my phone number when I was in Rennes. I decided to come to Southampton because I always wanted to play in England.

"In addition, it is the best academy in the country."

Mane was still with Saints when Valery arrived in 2016.

"It was good to talk to a player who was playing in the first team. He gave me advice. Sadio told me that if I had a problem, I could come and tell him about it."