Championship side lead race to sign Manchester City centre-back – Bundesliga and Ligue 1 clubs also interested | OneFootball

Manchester City could see one of the club’s most exciting young defenders continue his development in the second-tier of English football, according to new reports.

That concerns the future of Juma Bah, who was signed by Hugo Viana and Etihad Stadium transfer bosses during the January transfer window following an exemplary rise at Real Valladolid in Spain.

Having attracted the attentions of Manchester City talent-spotters, Bah penned a long-term agreement with the Premier League giants before being sent out on loan to RC Lens for the remainder of the 2024/25 season where commendable performances were on show.

But with his first full season as an Etihad Stadium-associated player on the horizon, it is still yet to be decided where Juma Bah will spend the campaign and which club will be the successful party in a growing race for his services.

Next steps will be vital for Bah on a personal note, as the defender holds firms intentions to eventually break into Manchester City’s first-team plans. “It’d be a dream to play with great players at City,” he told a recent interview.

“I usually play with them on PlayStation. Playing with them in real life will be amazing. I’m looking forward to go there, learn, and have the best coach in the world. My aim is to win trophies.”

Before then, and according to the information of Africa Foot, as translated and relayed by Sport Witness, recently-relegated Southampton are said to be ‘in pole position’ for the signing of Manchester City’s Juma Bah on loan for the 2025/26 campaign.

The Saints stand alongside newly-promoted Premier League outfit Leeds United in chasing the teenager on a loan agreement, while Ligue 1’s Paris FC and the Bundesliga’s FC Koln are also named as potential suitors for the player.

Juma Bah is unlikely to be the only player headed for the exit door at the Etihad Stadium this summer, but is likely to remain in the sights of the club given plans for only a temporary switch for the forthcoming campaign.

Elsewhere in defence and Kyle Walker is expected to depart on a free agreement, while John Stones and Nathan Ake have seen doubts raised in recent weeks due to their injury record during the last season.

James McAtee is widely expected to depart alongside Jack Grealish, although there have been little developments concerning concrete interest in either player as the FIFA Club World Cup dawns with neither star present in the United States.