Southampton are in negotiations with Lille over the transfer of Sofiane Boufal, with the clubs close to agreeing a deal that could be worth up to £21.2m (€25m) for the Morocco forward.
Boufal, who has also been tracked by Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham and Watford, has been told he will be allowed to leave Lille this summer after a spectacular breakthrough campaign that saw him score 11 times in his first full top-flight season.
The 22-year-old is currently recuperating after injuring a knee in May and is not expected to play again until the middle of next month. However, that has not stopped Southampton from firming up their interest, with the manager Claude Puel understood to have pushed for the signing after watching Boufal in action last season.
Talks began this week, with Southampton initially having a €15m bid rejected. But a source close to the player has indicated that there is a confidence between both parties that a deal can be agreed, with Lille holding out for a fee worth an initial €20m and €5m in potential future bonuses.
Boufal won the award for Best African Player in Ligue 1 and a product of the youth system at Angers, he is comfortable out wide or as a No10. Born in Paris, he opted to represent Morocco – for whom he qualifies through his parents – this year and made his debut against Cape Verde in March.
