Southampton are reportedly in talks to sign French teenage sensation Bilel Hassaini from Ligue 2 club Nancy.
The Saints continue to unearth young gems from at home and abroad while generally thriving in the top fight.
Under new manager Mauricio Pellegrino the South Coast club have made a solid if slightly underwhelming start to the season, drawing 0-0 with Swansea City and just about edging out the 10 men of West Ham 3-2 before a 2-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup.
Mario Lemina is Southampton’s big summer arrival so far
Pellegrino has signed central defender Wesley Hoedt and midfielder Mario Lemina so far in the transfer window while the club has also managed to keep hold of captain Virgil van Dijk as things stand.
Now it seems their focus is on acquiring more prodigious young talent to develop with reports from SFR Sport in France claiming Saints are in for 16-year-old central midfielder Hassaini.
The report claims Southampton submitted a £450,000 bid for the Nancy player at the beginning of the window.
Bilel Hassaini playing for France U16s against Germany
That was turned down by the Ligue 2 side but it is believed a higher bid could well tempt Nancy to sell as they are suffering financial difficulties.
In fact the report goes as far as to say Nancy would actually welcome the bid such is their situation.
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