A LIST of clubs who have been watching Mido in recent seasons reads like a European Super League fixture list.

Juventus, AS Roma, Anderlecht, Arsenal, Athletico Madrid, Lazio, Newcastle ... oh, and Aston Villa and Bolton Wanderers as well!

Back in the summer of 2002 Juventus claimed they were preparing to make an 18m Euros (£12m) bid for the Egyptian hot-shot when he was at Ajax.

That was after he impressed in a four-team tournament also involving Manchester United, Barcelona and Celtic - scoring twice against the Scots but being hauled off in the second half after being booked.

But eventually he went to Marseille last summer for around £6m after falling out of favour with the Dutch aces.

Before joining Marseille, though, Bolton boss Sam Allardyce admitted: "Mido was our biggest target - a player of his quality would have been an outstanding success in the Premiership."

And in January 2003 Aston Villa were also linked with the 21-year-old.

After falling out with Ajax coach Ronald Koeman in early 2003, Mido spent a successful loan spell with Celta Vigo in Spain.

But they could not afford the Ajax asking price and, though Mido claimed he would prefer a move to England, he ended up in southern France instead.

Twelve months after signing a five-year contract with the former European Cup winners, and the player is keen to move to his fifth club - aged just 21!

He started his career with Belgians Ghent before Ajax signed him for £3m after Saints had watched him carefully.

He made his debut for Egypt aged just 17 and his agent, Christophe Henrotay, has claimed in the past that Arsenal were interested in his client.

Speaking in 2002, Henrotay added: "Everyone would love to play there (in England), as it is one of the best championships in the world.

"It's fast, exciting...and Mido would like to play in England."

Mido fell out with Ajax after criticising coach Ronald Koeman's decision to leave him out of a match.

He declared in an interview with AT5 - a regional Dutch TV channel that can only be viewed in Amsterdam - that he wanted to leave Ajax and seek his fortune in England or Italy.

He later apologised for his comments and has stated since: "I know I was in trouble with my coach at Ajax, but that doesn't mean that I'm a bad boy.

"I've never had problems in Vigo or with the national team. I wasn't responsible for what happened at Ajax.

"I'm not a troublemaker."

The form of Chelsea target Didier Drogba led to Mido taking a bit of a back seat at Marseille last season and he ended up playing a lot less than he was expecting to.

Signed by Alain Perrin - the man heavily linked to the Saints managerial vacancy when Gordon Strachan left - Mido did play against Real Madrid in the European Champions League.

Having played at that level, would Mido be seriously interested in joining a club like Saints who do not have European football on their agenda in 2004/05?

If he is, then full credit to chairman Rupert Lowe for sweet-talking him into coming to the south coast.

Obviously James Beattie would have to leave to create space for Mido.

The England striker's loss would leave a huge gap to fill, of that there is little doubt.

But if Mido is the man coming to help fill his boots, then that might be a pill the St Mary's faithful would happily swallow...