Southampton likely to pursue summer deal for Manchester City starlet with 38 goal contributions THIS SEASON

Manchester City’s academy system could be subject to yet another raid from Premier League side Southampton during the coming summer transfer window.

Southampton secured the signings of four rising Manchester City academy talents during the most recent summer transfer window, in a raid that was likely inspired by the presence of former Etihad staff members at the football club.

Prior to the successful pursuits of four players, the Saints had recruited Manchester City’s Head of Academy Recruitment and Talent Management, Joe Shields – handing him the role of Head of Senior Recruitment.

That appointment then saw all of Juan Larios, Samuel Edozie, Romeo Lavia, and Gavin Bazunu swap Manchester City’s City Football Academy headquarters in east Manchester, for the south coast – largely thanks to the promise of immediate first-team football.

Now, Southampton’s interest in Manchester City’s brightest young talents is set to reignite this summer, with their latest recruitment drive taking them in the direction of Portugal youth international Carlos Borges.

According to the information of Jacob Tanswell reporting for The Athletic, Southampton have an ‘ongoing’ interest in City attacker Borges.

It is highlighted that Saints scouts have ‘closely monitored’ the 19 year-old, while a potential move to the south coast would ‘appeal’ to the player given the Manchester City influence and presence to at St. Mary’s.

The Athletic report that all parties involved in a potential deal are ‘likely’ to revisit the possibility during the upcoming summer transfer window.

The teenager’s ongoing season has been nothing short of sensational, registering a total of 27 appearances across all competitions for the club’s academy system, but failing to make his senior competitive debut thus far.

Across those 27 appearances, Carlos Borges has scored a staggering 23 goals and provided a further 15 assists – averaging a goal contribution ever 57.8 minutes across the Premier League 2, UEFA Youth League, and EFL Trophy.

Borges has also scored three hat-tricks this season, with one contest seeing him notch four times in a single match – as part of Manchester City EDS’ 1-6 away win over Manchester United in the Premier League 2 back in November.