Southampton manager Claude Puel is ready to consider other options after receiving a mixed response from Lille midfielder Sofiane Boufal this summer.
The 22-year-old midfielder’s future at Lille has been the subject of speculation, with clubs such as Chelsea and Liverpool linked with a move for the player of late.
However, Southampton are believed to be serious about landing the player, and club hierarchy have been in talks with the player’s representatives for weeks in the background over a proposed summer move.
But Southampton manager Puel is starting to lose patience with Boufal dragging his feet over the negotiations, and according to French sports daily L’Equipe, the French coach is ready give up on the chase.
It has been suggested that Southampton are yet to receive any positive response from Boufal’s side, and Puel is now considering other options in the transfer window.
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Boufal has a contract until 2019 with Lille, and the club are said to be only willing to sell the player for a fee of around €25m to €30m.
Scoring 12 goals and providing four assists, Boufal helped Lille to a fifth place finish in Ligue 1 last season.
