Injury won't hinder summer transfer plans - Lille's Sofiane Boufal

Morocco international Sofiane Boufal insists that a recent knee operation will not prevent him leaving Lille for a bigger club this summer.

Boufal, 22, has been linked with Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham after scoring 11 goals and picking up five assists in Ligue 1 last season.

The attacking midfielder's progress was halted in May, however, after he decided to undergo an operation to clear up a meniscus problem in his knee.

But Boufal told L'Equipe that the issue should not put off any potential buyers.

"I don't think this injury will have any influence on my future," Boufal said. "It's an injury that unfortunately strikes a lot of players and it's not an injury that can complicate my career in the short or medium term."

Lille are willing to sell the player but he has not ruled out staying in the north of France for at least another few months.

"My return date is foreseen in September and, at worst, I can eventually miss a maximum of three weeks of competition depending on the league I'm playing in. It's not huge," he added.

"And I'm not worrying too much about it because it wouldn't bother me to stay at Lille.

"I'm not obsessed by a departure. Above all I'm thinking about looking after myself well and if I have to stay at Lille, I'll stay with great pleasure."