Dusan Tadic to leave Southampton and join Ajax as clubs begin negotiating fee

Dusan Tadic is closing in on a move back to Holland with Ajax after informing Southampton that he wants to leave.

The Serbia international is currently in Russia playing in the World Cup but, after telling Southampton that he wants to return to a country where he played previously for FC Twente and Groningen, they have begun negotiations over a fee.

Around £15 million had initially been suggested for a player who cost Southampton £10.9m in 2014 but, with the player finishing last season as their leading scorer and the general inflation in transfer fees, they will be looking for closer to £18m.

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Tadic will turn 30 later this year but still has two years left on his contract, leaving Southampton in a relatively strong negotiating position.

New manager Mark Hughes relied heavily on Tadic in the final weeks of last season as Southampton avoided relegation. He scored three times in the club's last six games, including a brace in the win against Bournemouth that inspired their late burst out of the bottom three.

Tadic has also been Southampton’s leading ‘assist’ maker in the four seasons he has been at the club, with Hughes and recruitment chief Ross Wilson now working on several potential deals that they hope to progress next week.