Billy Sharp's agent insists there is no rush at the moment to sort out the striker's future.

Sharp does not form part of Mauricio Pochettino's first-team plans and is likely to leave St Mary's in order to pursue first-team football.

He has been linked with moves to Sheffield Wednesday, Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, Doncaster and Barnsley, among others, this summer.

His representative, James Featherstone, admits a decision will have to be made on his future before long, but there is currently no enormous urgency.

"It is a bit of a difficult one at the minute," he 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."

According to Featherstone, Sharp's preference is to remain in the Premier League should he leave Saints, who he believes would be looking to sell the striker rather than send him out on loan again.

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

"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."