Southampton are targeting Manchester City youngster Shea Charles as a replacement for Liverpool target Romeo Lavia.
Shea Charles is emerging as a top target for Southampton – and could take the spot of the in-demand Romeo Lavia.
That is according to the Daily Mail, who claim that Southampton would like to sign Manchester City talent Charles.
It’s claimed that Southampton are ‘weighing up a move’ to sign Lavia with Jason Wilcox a key factor.
Southampton’s new director of football operations Wilcox has recently left his post as Manchester City’s academy director.
If anybody knows Charles, it’s probably Wilcox having spent so much time around him in the City ranks.
Charles made his City debut on the final day of the Premier League season, coming on as a substitute in a defeat to Brentford.
The 19-year-old faces a tough task breaking into the City side regularly though and a number of clubs are interested, including Leicester City.
The Foxes have just appointed City coach Enzo Maresca as their new manager, so that relationship could rival Wilcox’s.
Liverpool will be watching Southampton business amid Romeo Lavia chase
The key here is that Southampton see Charles as a replacement for Belgian ace Lavia.
Southampton raided City last summer to sign Lavia and could now go back to the same well for Charles.
Lavia is attracting enormous interest and Liverpool now appear to be leading the race.
TalkSPORT reported earlier today that Liverpool have overtaken Chelsea in the race to sign Lavia.
The holding midfielder is valued at around £50million with Southampton likely to rake in the cash.
Finding a replacement for Lavia is vital and it looks like Charles could be their man.
Charles will have surely seen Lavia’s development at Southampton even in a relegation campaign and may fancy the move to the South Coast himself.
That may highlight that Southampton are now bracing themselves to lose Lavia with Liverpool emerging as favourites.
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