AZ Alkmaar have confirmed their interest in signing Saints outcast Jordy Clasie.

The Dutch side claim to have spoken to the 27-year-old about a summer move and received a positive response from the midfielder.

Any potential deal approach to Saints now lies in the hands of the club’s football affairs director Max Huiberts.

Clasie only has one year remaining on his Saints contract after spending the whole of the last campaign on loan at Feyenoord.

Saints would love to get a fee for Clasie now and recoup a little of the £8m they paid for him in 2015 before he leaves for nothing next year.

But Alkmaar are likely to drive a hard bargain knowing that Saints will wish at least to remove him from the wage bill.

That will mean either trying to negotiate a free transfer, pay just a nominal amount, or offer a one-year loan deal with a modest fee which effectively means that Clasie leaves the club for good.

Incoming Alkmaar head coach Arne Slot confirmed the club have spoken to Clasie about a potential move.

He said: “Jordy himself is enthusiastic, it is now up to Max Huiberts to get out with him and with Southampton.

“I spoke to Jordy about what his role could be in the team. Jordy is good at the ball, good at the passing and that, in combination with our players with depth, is what we are looking for at that position.”

Huiberts added: “Sometimes there is a chance to get this kind of boy. The trainer has been in contact with him. Jordy Clasie has a one-year contract with Southampton. We have to wait and see how this develops.

“It is still quiet. This period is still to be scanned. If large transfers take place with Dutch players in the large countries, it will become a bit more restless.”

Clasie was signed for Saints by Ronald Koeman but was a rare flop for the manager during his time with the club.

Clasie struggled to adapt to the physical nature of the Premier League in his first season with Koeman regularly insisting he would come good in his second year at St Mary’s.

However, that didn’t happen and he has spent the last two years out on loan, firstly with Club Brugge and then Feyenoord.