Southampton boss Will Still has moved to play down speculation involving Dibling – a talent compared to Gareth Bale. The 32-year-old said: “He’s been struggling. He didn’t come to Spain with us because he’s got a few niggles. He was back in training this week, and we had to push him for 60 minutes.

Southampton have come back with a proposal of £45m plus £5m in easily achievable bonuses and a 25 per cent sell-on clause.