Celta Vigo have an agreed 15 million euro transfer fee clause with Saints for Sofiane Boufal, but it looks unlikely they will buy unless the cost reduces.

Sofiane Boufal has now finished his time at Celta Vigo on loan and the question is whether he will return later in the summer, certainly his time there has not been a disaster and he has been a regular starter when fit, but like his time at St Mary's although he has shown glimpses of genius he has often been frustrating and it's felt that Celta Vigo will look elsewhere next season as their first option by the Spanish Press.

The media are saying that both the transfer fee and his wages would be a problem for them, on the first Saints would probably be prepared to listen, they not only want the money in for their own spending, but need his wages off the books, but only the player can decide whether he is willing to take a drop in income in order to facilitate a full time move.

So it looks likely that Boufal will return to Staplewood in July for pre season training with Saints, it will give Ralph Hasenhuttl his first opportunity to work with the player and also Celta Vigo some breathing space to lok at alternative options.

It seems that their first option is to find a player at a lower transfer fee and less wages, if they don't find that then they are likely to come back to the table and try and find an agreement between all parties.

Photo: Action Images

Sanguin added 16:47 - May 21 So it's not just at Southampton that he flatters to deceive. I hope we manage to convince someone to buy him, not just or this wages, he's so frustrating to watch.
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legod7 added 16:55 - May 21 Seeing as the influence RH has had on Redmond and JWP amongst others perhaps he could work his magic on Boufal. There is certainly a lot of skill there so perhaps RH is the the one who is able to harness it.
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saintmark1976 added 17:03 - May 21 You don't score goals like he did against W B A unless you are an exceptional talent. Bring him back and give him a second chance. Compared to resigning an ageing injury prone Liverpool reject there's no contest.
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mikesaint added 17:27 - May 21 Tell them pay up or do one
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A1079 added 18:05 - May 21 Everyone keeps saying that he has alot of skill but that is two clubs now where he has flattered to deceive. I fear we are stuck with him, along with a few others, unless we accept heavy financial losses, and these could be a burden to RH in getting the make up of the team he wants and progressing for next season - unless, as others have suggested, RH can wave some magic wand on these errant expensive purchases we have strapped to us.

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I_would added 20:23 - May 21 If RH can make JWP useful occasionally, Boufal will be like Messi after 10 mins at Marchwood. Get him in, the rest are boring!
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SaintBrock added 08:59 - May 23 Anybody who couldn't tolerate Hughes and his looney cronies is all good for me. Bring him back!
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underweststand added 19:21 - May 23 1)... I think Ralph should have a look at him first -just to be sure, but he never looked like a 90 minute team player, despite a couple of outstanding goal efforts. 2) ...As for Celta Vigo...second option ?...well, they would say that - wouldn't they. Mind you - it sounds like a lot of money for a team who only just beat the drop in Spain. Time will tell.
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Farmhouse added 21:48 - May 23 In the Premier league, positions 7-20 the margins are pretty small, all the teams try to play low risk, organised football, stay solid, counter attack at pace and threaten at set pieces. When we have an opportunity to use a player whose ability stands out amongst all the mediocrity then it’s worth persevering with. We drew the most matches in the league, if we had that one moment of magic to change those results into wins then our league position would look very different. At the end of the season we had Sims and Austin coming off the bench, I had little confidence these were game changing. Boufal has that X factor, Ralph needs to take a look

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