Southampton are plotting to sign Manchester City academy youngsters Kian Breckin and Carlos Borges.
The Saints have been very active in the January transfer window, bringing in the likes of Mislav Orsic and Carlos Alcaraz to help quell fears of relegation from the Premier League, and now they are looking at younger players to bring in this summer.
Both Borges and Breckin are yet to make a senior appearance for City, but they have managed to catch the eye of the Southampton recruitment team, who have previously signed the likes of Gavin Bazunu and Samuel Edozie from the Sky Blues.
According to The Sun, the Saints are plotting a big-money summer raid on City, with the Manchester club said to be willing to let the teenage duo leave in order to give them a better chance of playing first-team football in the near future.
However, it is further detailed that the deals would hinge upon a buyback clause being included in the contract, allowing Pep Guardiola’s club to sign them for an agreed fee in the future.
TIF thoughts on Breckin and Borges to Southampton…
Not only have Southampton signed Bazunu and Edozie from City in recent times, they also secured the signing of Romeo Lavia last summer. The young Belgian has quickly gone on to be an important player at St Mary’s, making ten Premier League appearances despite his season being blighted by injury.
As such, it is clear that the Saints’ recruitment team can be trusted when it comes to identifying young prospects, and there are signs that the latest two players to be linked could follow in Lavia’s footsteps of swapping Manchester for the south coast.
Hailed as ‘phenomenal‘ by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Borges usually features on the left wing and is having a remarkable season in Premier League 2, netting ten goals and registering five assists in 11 outings to offer hints that he is ready for the step up to senior football.
Breckin has not been quite as prolific but is still enjoying a decent season in the same team, weighing in with three goals and three assists, usually operating in central midfield, so signing the 19-year-old along with Borges could be another shrewd piece of prospective business by Southampton.