Billy Sharp's agent admits he has no idea if his client has a long-term future with Southampton. Agent James Featherstone said a loan could be an option but he thinks Southampton may prefer to sell Sharp, whose preference is to stay in the Premier League.

"It is a bit of a difficult one at the minute," Featherstone said. "He has been pre-season training with Southampton, working hard, and obviously he wants to try to force his way into the team.

"With him being out on loan last season and a new manager coming in, he hasn't really had a chance to impress. He wants to play football, he doesn't just want to sit out the last two years of his contract.

"But if he doesn't get an opportunity at Southampton and it is getting close to transfer deadline day at the end of August, or when the loan window opens back up a couple of weeks after, we will have to start making a decision about what is best for Billy.

"There is no rush at the present though because as I said before there is the loan window, but if he is to go to another Premier League club or another territory then it will have to be done before this current transfer window closes.

"For Billy, going to Southampton was his opportunity to play for a Premier League club.

"While that hasn't happened in terms of getting out on the pitch, now that he has experienced being in the Premier League, if you like, then I certainly think it will form a big part of Billy's decision was he to go elsewhere from Southampton.

"Billy is a good goalscorer and a lot of teams in the Premier League and Championship are short of goals, so as you can imagine there have been enquiries.

"I think Southampton are probably holding out to see if there are any more enquiries that come in that are more suitable as, at this stage, that is not in their interest."