REPORTS from Italy have linked Serie A attacking midfielder Filip Djuricic with a return to Saints, despite heavy competition from West Ham.

The 29-year-old Serbian international currently plays for Sassuolo in Serie A, having scored 14 goals since he signed for the club in 2018-19.

Then-Saints coach Ronald Koeman hailed the player for his technical ability and good footwork, despite standing at six-feet tall – but his temporary spell in England was an unsuccessful one.

On loan from Benfica during the 2014-15 season, in a team that featured the likes of Sadio Mane, Graziano Pelle and Virgil van Dijk, he only made nine appearances in the Premier League and failed to register a goal.

Now Italian publication Calciomercato are linking him with Premier League sides Saints and West Ham – although add that the latter are currently leading the race.

His contract is due to expire in summer 2022, when he will then become a free agent and be available to sign without the added cost of a transfer fee, and there is to date no new agreement in place.

The report also details how the likes of Shaktar Donetsk, Inter Milan and Napoli have all shown interest in the past.

After making his name in the Dutch Eredivisie with Heerenveen – who he left at the start of the 2013-14 season – Djuricic only scored one league goal until the start of 2018-19, between six different permanent and loan clubs.

If he did return to Saints, he would have a point to prove – but what do you think of the reports?