WESLEY Hoedt hopes to seal a permanent move away from Saints this summer.

The defender spent last season on loan at Belgian side Royal Antwerp, making 25 appearances in all competitions.

The Daily Echo understands that Hoedt's agent has been instructed to find his client a new club.

And the 26-year-old hints there's been interest from other clubs but remained coy when pressed on the matter.

“There are a number of things going on, there is enough interest," Hoedt told Het Nieuwsblad.

"I cannot say more about it, because I remain dependent on Southampton.

"The intention is that this time I leave permanently.”

Hoedt previously described the Belgian First Division A as a "Mickey Mouse league", although he's now open to the possibility of staying at Royal Antwerp.

He joined Saints from Lazio in 2017 for around £15million but failed to win over current boss Ralph Hasenhuttl.

The Austrian loaned him out to Celta Vigo in January 2019 and then gave the green light for Hoedt to spend another season away from St Mary's last summer.

Addressing the speculation surrounding his future, Hoedt added: “I just read rumours about Club Brugge, but that amazes me.

"I haven’t heard anything about that yet, so I just see it as a compliment.

“However, given the special corona situation, you would be crazy to exclude things, even if nothing is going on at the moment, even a return to Antwerp is not something I can exclude.”