With an ex manager and head of recruitment gone to Tottenham Hotspur it is in inevitable that we will sometimes chase the same player, but who is it this time ?

The player in question is Lille's Sofiane Boufal who would appear to be a replacement for Sadio Mane should Saints decide to cash in on their Senegalese striker.

His agent is busy pushing his name forward trying to suggest that Barcelona are interested and he is also saying that Saints have already been in contact with Lille about a possible move.

The price would be about 25-30 million euros, which even at this weeks low exchange rate after the referendum would be less that what Saints would get for Mane should he go to Liverpool. However this is the agents valuation and would be somewhat inflated a little.

Boufal will be 23 in September had a good season with Lille scoring 12 times and being credited with 4 assists.

However his experience in the top division in France is limited, he joined Lille mid season in 2014/15 and had a slow start failing to score in his first 8 appearances, then he sprang to life scoring 6 times in the final 6 games (Sound familiar ?)

Last season he was more consistent, although a hat trick in the final weeks made his goal tally of 12 in the league seem more respectable (Again sound familiar ?)

One glitch for Saints though could be that Spurs are sniffing around because it is claimed that former head of recruitment at St Mary's Paul Mitchell took our scout in France to Spurs recently, meaning we had to replace our man in France.

Spurs though are now well aware of Boufal and could make a move, Saints though might be a better bet for him due to the opportunity to be a first team regular, Spurs are becoming known as a team who do not use their squad to its full extent in Premier League games, that will sound familiar as well !

That being the case Boufal might prefer to play for a team where he will get game time and a lot of it, rather than perhaps be on the peripheral at Spurs.

Photo: Action Images

TeamCortese added 10:26 - Jun 25 Looks a quality player. If we can get him for less than £15 million then I think we've got a good deal there. Definitely a Mane replacement though. He feels more like a Mahrez/Tadic.
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TeamCortese added 10:28 - Jun 25 not*
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the_saint added 13:50 - Jun 25 Very good player,skillful, has pace,tricky little winger with fantastic footwork and only 22 got a few man of matches last season. Can he do it in the premier league who knows. Sorry now to be negative don't think we would get him if it's correct with the clubs interested in him
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the_saint added 13:56 - Jun 25 Another player we have apparently been linked with (and this is only rumour guys) is Filip kostic who plays for Stuttgart. Any body else heard that one?
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