With the World Cup break now in effect, and the last Premier League games having been played, only a handful of Southampton players will depart for Qatar this winter.

That leaves Nathan Jones with a relatively full squad with which he can begin instilling his philosophy.

However, as is always the way with this competition, the platform to announce one’s self on the greatest stage of all often draws up some sensational stories and transfer rumours to branch off them too.

With the Saints, it seems one of their targets is set to travel with Morocco in Zakaria Aboukhlal, and should he star, it could increase the price tag on the already £8.7m-rated star.

The tricky 22-year-old has only freshly moved to France, where he has enjoyed a fine start to life in Toulouse. He boasts three goals and three assists in Ligue 1, where he has featured on both wings and as a centre forward.

Traditionally a right winger, however, he could offer a fine alternative to the underperforming Mohamed Elyounoussi, who is yet to score this campaign.

It seems, given reports, that the south coast club will battle with Leicester City to gain the 5 foot 10 speedster’s signature. Both clubs plan to watch him over the upcoming international tournament.

Given his youth, 13 caps mark an impressive return thus far, having grown up playing for the Netherlands youth teams until the U20 level.

Now travelling to face Belgium, Croatia and Canada in Group F of the World Cup, he has been handed a tough but massive stage to really showcase his credentials.

What would likely help him translate his experience and clear goalscoring prowess to English football is his physicality, which Hanif Ben Berkane praised in a Tweet about the forward where he labelled him a “physical monster” who is “hyper combative."

Jones will want to get this deal sealed as soon as possible with not only the Foxes but likely many more suitors to join in the pursuit of Aboukhlal.

He seems to be slowly improving with each season, and could now explode in Qatar.