According to reports on Portuguese website Zero Zero, Southampton manager Claude Puel is said to be targeting a move for Nice midfielder Jean Seri, who he signed during his time with the French club.
The 25-year-old has been one of the standout performers for the Ligue 1 high-flyers this term, and is understood to have caught the attention of his former boss, as well as Marseille.
The Ivory Coast international, who is often deployed in a central midfield role, would likely fill a spot that is currently occupied by club captain Steven Davis.
The Northern Ireland international has struggled to adapt to playing alongside Oriol Romeu in front of the defence in a 4-2-3-1 formation, and with the likes of Jordy Clasie and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg failing to impress Puel in recent weeks, it is a position he could look to strengthen this summer.
If Seri did move to St Mary’s similarities between him and N’Golo Kante would follow as he stands at just 5’6” tall, but while he can play in a defensive role, he is far more of an attacking central midfield player.
His stats from the current campaign with Nice back that up, and he certainly has the ability to find the net from that position – something that Saints have lacked this season with Davis, Romeu, Hojbjerg and Clasie failing to score a single Premier League goal between them this term.
Meanwhile, Seri has netted four in 25 Ligue 1 appearances and the Saints supporters would enjoy that the Ivorian likes to shoot from outside the penalty area.
But it is his creative ability that is perhaps more eye-catching, as he has provided nine assists and 50 key passes for his Nice teammates.
Having made 21 interceptions and 16 clearances, the 25-year-old can perform defensively too, but it may concern Puel that he has made three defensive errors during the current campaign.
The French boss likes his players to be comfortable on the ball, and with a passing accuracy of 90%, Seri certainly falls into this category too.
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