[ad_pod ]

This article is part of Football FanCast's Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news...

The Daily Echo has reported that a story by L'Equipe (subscription required) that said Southampton attacker Sofiane Boufal was set to join Nice in a €10 (£9m) deal is wide of the mark, and it's just as well for the south coast outfit.

What's the word, then?

Well, L'Equipe reported late on Monday that the Ligue 1 outfit were in advanced negotiations with the Premier League side over a move for the Morocco international, with a transfer likely to be completed by the end of the week.

However, The Daily Echo said on Tuesday that the rumour linking the 25-year-old with a return to France isn't true, and that he is expected to report for pre-season training following an extended break after his exertions for his county at the African Cup of Nations.

Watch Southampton Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

The winger has just returned to St Mary's following a season-long loan spell with La Liga club Celta Vigo, having fallen out with with former Saints boss Mark Hughes towards the end of the 2017/18 campaign.

Why is it just as well for Southampton?

To be frank, they shouldn't be considering selling Boufal for that sum of money.

Southampton's new man Moussa Djenepo divides opinion amongst fans in the video below...

Yes, he has had his issues since being in a red and white shirt and has ultimately failed to deliver on his £16m price tag with four goals and three assists in 59 appearances in all competitions, but to sell him for less than £10m would be downright wrong.

The African is a game-changer on his day and showed with his moment of magic against West Bromwich Albion exactly what he is capable of, while only Lionel Messi (185) completed more successful dribbles than his tally of 144 in La Liga last term, according to WhoScored.

In a day and age where Leicester City are demanding £80m for Harry Maguire, Southampton should be asking for far more than £9m for a talented player who is aged 25 and still has two years left on his contract at St Mary's.

In truth, if that is the only offer and his head is right, they would be better off keeping him and giving him a second chance to prove that he can give something to Ralph Hasenhuttl, who is still yet to see him in action on the training pitch.