Nice have all but given up hope of re-signing Jordan Amavi after their former boss Claude Puel set his sights on the Aston Villa man.
Puel is expected to soon be appointed the new Southampton manager aqnd the Frenchman is already plotting potential signings.
Nice had been keen on re-signing Amavi, who they sold to Aston Villa last summer, following the English side's relegation from the Premier League to the Championship.
But according to local French daily the Nice Matin, the Ligue 1 side have all but given up hope of the deal happening.
Puel wants the left-back, who he knows well from his time as Nice coach, at Southampton and the Saints are expected to decisively enter the race for the 22-year-old soon.
relatedNewsStory
Aston Villa only signed the left-back last summer from Nice, but he could not help the club avoid dropping out of the English top flight.
Amavi has also been linked with AC Milan and Liverpool.
