The 25-year-old Portuguese midfielder has made two starts for Lille this season, but could have easily moved to England in the last month of the transfer window.
Lille were prepared to let the midfielder go and several clubs did make enquiries to land him before the window shut.
According to French sports daily L’Equipe, Southampton were interested in taking the Portuguese to the Premier League in the transfer window.
The Saints were in the market for midfielder and Xeka is one of the players who were on the shortlist in the just concluded transfer window.
Spartak Moscow were also in for him but Lille never received any concrete offers on their table and the midfielder was also happy to stay.
Lille were ready to sell him for around €10m and were even ready to loan him out towards the end with an option to buy.
But nothing happened and Southampton went on to sign Ibrahima Diallo from French outfit Brest on deadline day.
