SOUTHAMPTON are plotting yet another big money summer raid on Manchester City’s Academy stars.
Saints want midfielder Kian Breckin, 19, and 18-year-old winger Portuguese Carlos Borges, both of whom have been tipped for big futures.
City banked £40million when Southampton signed starlets Romeo Lavia, Gavin Bazunu and Sam Edozie last year, with buyback clauses included in all three deals.
Etihad Academy director Jason Wilcox could also head to St Mary’s, as he is presently weighing up a lucrative offer to become Director of Football.
Breckin and Borges signed their first professional contracts last year and have played starring roles for City’s kids at the top of Premier League 2.
City wouldn’t let them go for peanuts, but are increasingly open to giving their youth products a quicker first-team pathway.
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Yet that is dependent on retaining the option to buy them back at an agreed figure in the future.
Southampton were also keen on teenage striker Liam Delap, 19, who was on loan at Stoke, after failing with a £20m-plus offer last year, but he has joined Preston for the rest of the season.
The south coast club have continued with the transfer plan that they established in the summer despite the removal of manager Ralph Hasenhuttl.
The Austrian was replaced by Luton Town boss Nathan Jones.
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Jones has had a mixed time since taking over at St Mary’s Stadium.
After a dismal start that saw the Saints fall to bottom of the table, success is starting to be found.
The club are into the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup after beating Manchester City.
And in the league, they are on the up after beating Everton 2-1 at Goodison Park.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
