Exclusive: Rising Wolves star in talks over first professional contract

The 17-year-old forward has caught the eye of head coach Vitor Pereira and was given his senior debut at the weekend, coming on as a late substitute in the Premier League defeat to Brighton.

As a result, Mane became the youngest ever player to make his Premier League debut for Wolves, taking the record from Anthony Forde who had not long turned 18 when he made his bow against Chelsea in 2011.

Now, Wolves and Mane have begun negotiations over his first professional contract as the club aim to secure his future.

Last summer, Mane was among a list of 14 youngsters who put pen to paper on a two-year full-time scholarship at Wolves, with the hope of securing a professional deal.

It is expected that the player will begin to interest other clubs as he makes his breakthrough and Wolves are now negotiating with the teenager over his first professional contract at the club.

After giving Mane his debut, Pereira publicly backed the 17-year-old to be part of his first team next season in a remarkable show of faith.

"I'm sure he'll be a surprise in England, in this league," Pereira said. 

"He's a player with talent and for sure next season he'll be in the first team with us.

"He's not only a talent, he's a worker, and in that moment of the game it was not just to give him the minutes, it was because I think he can do something because he's special."

Born in the Portuguese capital city of Lisbon, Mane moved to England at a young age and emerged at non-league Rochdale, before Wolves swooped for his signature in March last year.

He has gone on to impress for the under-18s and under-21s before stepping up to the first team in recent weeks.

Mane represented Portugal at under-17 level before switching allegiances to England's under-18s.

In October last year he was called up by both Portugal and England's under-18 sides and chose to represent the Three Lions.

Wolves have high hopes for the forward and believe he can impact the first team in the coming years if they can tie him down to a deal.