SAINTS are close to completing the signing of Mohamed Elyounoussi from Swiss outfit Basel. 

The Norway international left Basel's training camp in Tegernsee, Germany last night, landing at Gatwick airport at around midnight ahead of his expected switch to St Mary's.

The 23-year-old, who is said to have agreed personal terms over a £16m switch, will now undergo his medical at Staplewood and, if all goes smoothly, will sign on at Saints.

The attacking midfielder, who is expected to be announced as a Saints player in the next 24 hours, will come in as a replacement for Dusan Tadic, who left for Ajax yesterday. 

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.