According to an interview he did with French media outlet SFR Sport, Southampton star Sofiane Boufal's agent Yvan Le Mee has revealed that the forward was in demand during the summer transfer window with Serie A duo Inter Milan and Fiorentina and Spanish side Celta Vigo keen to sign him.

What's the word, then?

Well, the Morocco international has struggled for game time under Saints boss Mauricio Pochettino this term – and for form generally following his £16m move from Lille in 2016 – but he scored a brilliant solo winning goal against West Bromwich Albion last weekend to pick up a much-needed three points for his team.

Following the strike his agent decided to come out and speak about the 24-year-old's future, and confirmed he could have left St Mary's during the summer with a number of European clubs interested in his client.

What did he say?

Speaking to SFR Sport, Le Mee said: "In August we had clubs like Inter, Fiorentina and Celta Vigo, who know what they're doing when it comes to buying players, who all wanted to buy him at any cost.

"Southampton said no though, and now he's proving he's someone who can win points.

"He feels good now, he's just waiting to play more.”

Is his future in doubt then?

If he isn't given a regular run in the starting line-up before the January transfer window then you would assume that the player would start to agitate for a move, and the club could decide to cash in on a player that hasn't performed consistently following his move in 2016.

However, Boufal has impressed in Saints' last three Premier League matches from the substitutes' bench and he should be in line to start against Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday – if he does it will be only the third time he has been named in the XI this season.

Why hasn't it worked out for him yet?

Boufal was suffering from injury and didn't have a pre-season when he first joined Southampton, and that lack of sharpness and form seemed to hamper him throughout the 2016/17 campaign.

However, he has no excuses this term and he has finally shown in the last few weeks that he is able to make an impact, as well as working hard defensively for the team, but he now needs a run in the side.

https://video.footballfancast.com/video-2015/PL25(15-16).mp4