Former Lille winger Sofiane Boufal may have shown flashes of his worth following his reported £16million switch from Lille in August of 2016 but those flashes have been few and far between and Southampton fans are hardly convinced.
📝 Nice and Rennes have reportedly identified winger Sofiane Boufal as a possible summer transfer target.
Who would you replace Boufal with? #Saintsfc #EPL pic.twitter.com/ejIprMsRHk
— talkSAINTS 🏴 (@talkSAINTS) June 13, 2018
With such an outlay on the 24-year-old Moroccan and obvious talent at his core, there is sense behind the Daily Echo’s line of thought that new permanent manager Mark Hughes should give him a second chance to impress following their bust-up that saw him end the season with our Under 23 side and Hughes to his credit has intimated that.
Fans are often quicker to lead with their gut though.
29 starting appearances later, with 30 from the bench have only seen a return of four goals and with others pulling their socks up to battle against relegation, cashing in and using that money elsewhere seems a more realistic option.
Boufal may think so as well having lost his World Cup spot after the last year with us and he’s certainly intimated that himself since his demotion and a stated preference for Marseille next.
A report by Le Parisien as referenced via Les Transferts has linked the player with a possible summer switch to Ligue 1 and either OGC Nice or Stade Rennes.
Fans appear to welcome this believing we already have one man at the club who is a better fit for the manager.
Boufal replacement is already in place in the likes of Joshua Sims peeps #SaintsFC
— Richard (@trickysjoyboy) June 13, 2018
I agree that @simsjosh12 is already someone more ready for the Premier League but also think Boufal could be great given time. His goal against West Brom was amazing
— Rich Prosser (@RichProsser) June 13, 2018
on Sims, thought he came across really well on the Sky Phenoms: Engalnd programme tonight. Followed him back from injury
— Chris Harris (@Chris_Harri5) June 13, 2018
Would we miss him so much that we’d need to replace? He barely played/contributed.
— ????????????_????????????????_???????????????????????????????????????? (@not_that_tomh) June 13, 2018
A footballer would do – obvious talent but not a team player. Not surprised it didnt work-out for #saintsfc
— Simon Ryan (@simonryan80) June 13, 2018
In amongst responses comparing his effort to that of ‘an empty milk bottle’ and suggesting a ‘lump of wood’ could be an improvement, a few were on the second chance side of the fence as shown by the below.
No one. Tell him he’ll start if he performs, trust him, make him the no.10, and then watch him flourish next season #saintsfc
— The Perturbed Mole (@PerturbedMole) June 14, 2018
Down to Hughes and Boufal’s response and no doubt the potential fee we could recoup.
