ANDERS SVENSSON is on the verge of agreeing a return to Elfsborg at the end of the season.

The Swedish midfielder is out of contract in the summer and has been free since January 1 to negotiate with other clubs over a potential move when his current deal runs out.

There has been interest from Espanyol in Spain and Swedish giants IFK Gothenborg.

But Swedish press reports say Svensson is set to rejoin the club he left in the summer of 2001 for St Mary's, Elfsborg, when the Premiership season comes to a close.

Svensson will sign a four-year contract and become the best-paid player in Swedish League history.

The move will mark a return to Svensson's hometown of Boras, where his family still live.

Svensson has also received assurances from the Swedish national team that he will keep his place in the squad despite a return to the much lesser-rated Swedish leagues, from where players can often struggle to gain international honours.

The enigmatic midfielder joined Saints for £750,000 from Elfsborg in June 2001 and was signed by Stuart Gray.

He hit world prominence when he scored with a free-kick against Argentina in the 2002 World Cup finals and has been a consistent performer for his country with a scoring rate far better than his Saints average.

Svensson's time at Saints has had highs and lows but he has always remained a firm fans' favourite for his ability to pass the ball and launch attacks.

Svensson's Saints record reads 113 starts, 28 sub appearances and 14 goals.

Svensson is free to sign a pre-contract agreement to leave Saints for nothing at the end of the season.

He can't leave on a permanent basis now due to the transfer window closing.

Negotiations over a new contract between Saints and Svensson opened last summer but were put on hold and have not been resumed.

Harry Redknapp recently admitted the club would only look at the possibility of extending Svensson's deal at the end of the season when the club know what division they will be in next season.