GARETH BALE, Luke Shaw, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and more have made their name away from Southampton, after coming through the club’s famed academy.
The latest youngster who is expected to wow Premier League fans in years to come is Jimmy-Jay Morgan.
But, the fleet-footed forward, 17, won’t be showcasing his skills on the south coast.
Instead, he could turn out for Chelsea – after joining the Blues in a £6million deal on the last day of the January transfer window.
Todd Boehly’s team reportedly beat Man City and Arsenal to the signing of the teenager.
So, what kind of player are they getting?
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Last year, Morgan scored 27 goals for the U16s – frightening defences with his pace, power and lethal finishing.
He was promoted to the U18s, where he scored 13 more.
This campaign, the wonderkid has added hold-up play to his game.
It hasn’t stopped him from scoring goals for fun, including six in 13 starts. But he has added five assists too that show he’s become a better team player.
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Saints coach Louis Carey purred about the England U17 star after Morgan scored a hat-trick in the Premier League Cup – a competition for U21s.
““I know Jimmy gets the headlines and the match ball, he can finish and the range of finishes is at the level we probably haven’t seen coming through the system for many years,” Carey said after Southampton brushed aside Birmingham 4-0.
“That’s a huge positive, but when you look at the goals it’s a set-play that’s worked on, him pressing or Dom Ballard making incredible runs to take away defenders, and then the quality from the boys to find the pass, effort that allows his goals to come.
“But at the end of it you need someone like Jimmy to finish, and as I said I think he’s one of the best I’ve seen in my time here.”
Contract rebel
Morgan had just 18-months left of his contract, before Chelsea swooped.
After he turned down a deal the week before the Blues came in for him, manager Nathan Jones hoped he would make the “right choices” in his career.
Ahead of the FA Cup tie against Blackpool, Jones said: “Jimmy is a fantastic player with a bright future if he picks the right choices and the people that are working with him handle him well and if we work him in training and develop him into the right level.”
However, he was snubbed from the match day squad, which Jones had explained the reasons for before.
“If it’s right for us tomorrow to put a youngster in, we’ll do it. What we won’t do is put anyone in gratuitously,” he said.
“They have to earn it, they have to be ready. When they do and they get their opportunities, we’d like them to take it, so we’ll see.”
Sadly for Southampton fans, they didn’t get the chance to see Morgan in action.
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He leaves without making a first team appearance. Time will tell if he made the “right choice” in joining Chelsea and will get the opportunities to impress.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
