SAINTS are hopeful of completing a deal for Norway international Mohamed Elyounoussi.

The Daily Echo understands Saints plan to act quickly to replace Dusan Tadic, ahead of his expected switch to Ajax, with Basel’s Elyounoussi top of the list.

The 23-year-old, who is an attacking midfielder, has 16 caps for Norway, having made his debut in January 2014, and his representatives are believed to have travelled to London to meet with Saints to discuss a potential switch to St Mary’s.

Elyounoussi himself is currently at Basel’s training camp in Tegernsee, Germany, but will travel to Staplewood soon to complete a medical, if an agreement can be reached. 

German Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg are also keen on making a move for the exciting talent, but Saints feel confident of attracting him to the South Coast, with the player himself said to be set on a move to the Premier League. 

Elyounoussi netted 11 goals and tallied 15 assists for Basel last season, as they finished runners-up in the Swiss Super League.

The attacker had a superb Champions League campaign with Basel, too, scoring against Manchester City in a 2-1 win at the Etihad in the competition's knockout stages in February. 

He is said to be a technically gifted player who likes to take opponents on.

Coupled with excellent vision and a good shot, he has become one of Norway manager Lar Lagerback's favourite players. 

The Moroccan-born attacker has spent two seasons in Switzerland with Basel, winning the league and cup double in his debut campaign in 2016/17.

He made the move to Switzerland after two years with Molde, where he was top-scorer in his first campaign, helping the Norwegians to a Tippeligaen title and the cup.

Elyounoussi, who goes by the nickname Moi, started his career at Norwegian outfit Sarpsborg 08.

He was relegated from the Tippeligaen with them in his debut season in 2011, but helped them back to the top-flight in 2012, before attracting the attentions of Molde in 2013 after helping Sarpsborg to survival.

Elyounoussi spent two years at Molde before heading to Basel.

Saints are understood to be hopeful of making Elyounoussi their second summer signing after the capture of Celtic central midfielder Stuart Armstrong yesterday.