According to SkyBet, West Ham United are the 9/4 favourites to sign Southampton midfielder Dusan Tadic this summer.

Irons manager Slaven Bilic is keen to strengthen his attacking options following a below-par campaign and he is still looking for a replacement for the creative Dimitri Payet, who left for Marseille during the January transfer window.

A need for a central attacking midfielder who can play wide could mean that Tadic is an attractive proposition for the Hammers.

Meanwhile, there could also be major changes at Saints over the course of pre-season with Claude Puel's future seemingly uncertain, while there may be players coming and going too following a disappointing goalscoring campaign in which they netted just 17 times at home.

One of those casualties could be the 28-year-old after he endured his worst Premier League season since moving to the south coast outfit in 2014.

Here are three reasons Southampton should sell Tadic to West Ham…

He could be on the decline

Soccer Football - Hapoel Be'er Sheva v Southampton - UEFA Europa League Group Stage - Group K - Yaakov Turner Toto Stadium, Be'er Sheva, Israel - 29/9/16
Southampton's Dusan Tadic in action with Hapoel Be’er-Sheva's Miguel Vitor and Maharan Radi 
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After scoring four goals and providing a further seven assists in his first Premier League season and then netting seven and giving 13 assists in his second campaign, Tadic has struggled to make an impact in a low-scoring Saints side this term.

The 28-year-old scored just three goals and provided five assists during a disappointing top flight campaign in terms of attacking threat, and the club may feel that he is on the decline as he approaches his 29th birthday.

Critcising the manager in public

Claude Puel looks on during his time as Southampton manager

Whether he disagreed with his decisions or not, Tadic was wrong to publicly criticise Claude Puel in March by saying that the Frenchman’s decision to substitute him off in some matches had cost Southampton a result.

Since then, the 28-year-old has stayed on the pitch more than he did previously but amid a disappointing personal campaign, the matter should have been sorted out behind closed doors.

Having reportedly also not seen eye-to-eye with previous boss Ronald Koeman, Saints may feel it’s time to sell the potential trouble-marker this summer.

He can't play in the same team as Boufal

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Southampton's Sofiane Boufal celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates
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The Moroccan became Southampton’s record signing last summer following his arrival from Lille but he has struggled to make an impression following an injury-hit campaign.

The 23-year-old has certainly looked more comfortable as a number 10 rather than out wide, where he has less defensive responsibilities, and the club could look to utilise him there more next term.

The problem, however, is that it is also Tadic’s preferred position, so Saints may choose to invest in the talent of Boufal rather than try to utilise both of them in the team, as they tried and failed to do in the 0-0 draw at home to Hull City.

Do you agree, Saints fans? Let us know below.