SAINTS could net an unexpected cash windfall from a player that was a flop in their Premiership relegation season.

Jelle van Damme (pictured) has become a transfer target for top flight side Wolves – and his move could net Saints up to £385,000 as part of a sell-on clause for the 26-year-old.

Saints are understood to be owed between 10-15 per cent of any fee Van Damme’s current club, Anderlecht, receive for the left back.

The sell-on clause was inserted by former chairman Rupert Lowe following Van Damme’s departure from St Mary’s.

The talk is of Wolves paying around 3m euros to take Van Damme, which would mean Saints would net somewhere between £250,000- £385,000 of the fee.

The deal is not yet complete with the Belgian club understood to want 3m euros after deductions.

Van Damme himself is also owed around five per cent of any fee they receive.

However, it is believed that Wolves are keen to make a move happen, as is the player, so sources in the Midlands are expecting a deal to happen this summer and give Saints a surprise cash boost.

Van Damme (pictured below) joined Saints for £2.5m from Ajax in the summer of 2004.

He was signed under the watch of Paul Sturrock and was spotted by then European scout Terry Cooper.

However, things didn’t work out for Van Damme in England with Sturrock quickly replaced by Steve Wigley and the Belgian international finding himself playing second fiddle to Graeme Le Saux at left back.

Van Damme was reportedly unhappy with the situation only months after arriving on the south coast. After just six appearances for the club, he went to German club Werder Bremen on loan for the rest of the campaign.

Saints themselves then ended the season by being relegated to the Championship, so it was inevitable Van Damme would be one of the players out the door as the club looked to cut costs.

He was sold to Anderlecht for around £500,000.

Van Damme, who is married to Elke Clijsters – sister of tennis star Kim Clijsters – has enjoyed a happier time at Anderlecht.

He has won two Belgian league titles, which in turn has brought him to the attention of Wolves.