Manchester City join Arsenal and Leeds in hunt for Southampton winger | OneFootball

Premier League champions Manchester City are in a battle to lure the signing of one of Southampton’s brightest academy talents, a new report has revealed.

In recent months, the trend in terms of academy dealings involving City and Southampton has more often been in the direction of transfer towards the south coast, as opposed to the opposite direction.

Most recently, Manchester City’s Academy Director Jason Wilcox confirmed that he would be taking a more senior first-team position at Southampton following the conclusion of the ongoing season.

That decision followed the successful transfers of Gavin Bazunu, Juan Larios, Romeo Lavia, and Samuel Edozie all swapping Manchester City’s illustrious academy conveyor belt for immediate first-team opportunities at Saint Mary’s.

However, that trend could now come to end, with a new report suggesting that the Premier League champions – who have significantly improved their track record of handing academy stars first-team opportunities – could make a move for one of Southampton’s brightest prospects.

That is according to the information of Sky Sports, who report that Southampton academy star Jimmy-Jay Morgan has told the club that he wants to leave, after rejecting their offer of a first professional contract at Saint Mary’s.

As such, the academy systems at Manchester City, Arsenal and Leeds United are now all ‘assessing’ whether to sign the 17 year-old – who is also an England youth international, and regularly trains with the Southampton first-team squad.

Such is Morgan’s talents at such a young age, that he has already earned a place on the bench for Carabao Cup ties against Manchester City and Sheffield Wednesday this season, as well as the FA Cup third round clash with Crystal Palace.

Most commonly deemed by coaches to be a winger, but also having the ability to play at striker, Jimmy-Jay Morgan has scored a total of six goals in eight games for England’s under-17 squad, as well as four goals in eight Premier League 2 games for Southampton B this season.

Manchester City have excellent history when it comes to developing bright talents in attacking positions within their academy system, and that record could sway the decision of Morgan should he decide to limit his options to the three current suitors.

This season alone, the likes of Portuguese forward Carlos Borges and Adedire Mebude are lighting up the academy competitions, earning themselves regular spots in Pep Guardiola’s first-team training sessions.