Sofiane Boufal has reportedly rejected a move to Leicester City in order to join Southampton.
Lille playmaker Sofiane Boufal
According to Get French Football News, Lille playmaker Sofiane Boufal will today complete a medical ahead of joining Southampton – and L’Equipe claim that he has rejected moves to two Premier League rivals, including Leicester.
Despite signing Nathan Redmond from Norwich City earlier this summer, Southampton boss Claude Puel clearly felt that he need more attacking reinforcements after just one goal in the first two Premier League games of the new season.
In order to boost his attack, Puel has gone back to France to claim one of the top talents in Ligue 1, as Lille star Sofiane Boufal is reportedly on the verge of completing his move to Southampton.
Get French Football News report that Boufal will today complete a medical with the Saints, with L’Equipe claiming that he has rejected offers from two other Premier League clubs in order to join Puel on the South Coast.
Boufal, 22, hit 11 goals and four assists for Lille last season, starring either as an attacking midfielder or out wide as he became one of the most highly-rated young players in France.
Unsurprisingly, Boufal’s displays have triggered major interest, and the Moroccan international is now set for a move to the Premier League, with Puel – who will have seen Boufal last season having been managing Lille’s Ligue 1 rivals Nice – landing quite the coup with his signature.
Southampton manager Claude Puel
Major French newspaper L’Equipe state that a deal worth €20m excluding bonuses (£17m) has been struck, but Boufal has not only rejected a move to Premier League champions Leicester City, but also snubbed an unnamed Premier League team who offered Boufal a much higher salary than he will receive at Southampton.
The chance to work with Puel may be seen as a real bonus for Boufal, whilst guaranteed first-team football could also be a factor in his decision – and with Boufal, Dusan Tadic, Shane Long and the aforementioned Redmond all at Puel’s disposal, Southampton may have an exciting attack to work with this season.
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