Southampton could be on the verge of taking a massive leap in their project on the south coast of England this summer as Saints are eyeing a move for Manchester City’s Joe Shields.
Shields is the current head of academy recruitment at City, but as reported by the Telegraph as well as transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, Southampton is targeting Shields to become the head of first-team “player trading.”
Southampton are targeting Man City head of academy recruitment Joe Shields, as per @SamWallaceTel. Talks well advanced, Chelsea also wanted him but Shields is ready to join Southampton. ⚪️?? #SaintsFC
Sancho, Delap and many other talents joined Man City under Shields period.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 17, 2022
The 35-year-old has done a magnificent job up to this point in the blue half of Manchester, with talented young payers the likes of Jadon Sancho, Liam Delap, Romeo Lavia, Finley Burns, Luke Mbete, and Ben Knight have all made their way to City courtesy of Shields during his tenure.
But Shields could have an even bigger role at Southampton that would directly tap into his level of expertise when it comes to surveying the market for young talent after Saints have done well both last summer and the current period to bring in players of promise that can immediately contribute.
Southampton has already brought in one young talent this summer in Gavin Bazunu from Man City, while last season saw the St. Mary’s outfit complete deals for Chelsea pair Armando Broja (loan), and Tino Livramento, with Mohammed Salisu and Ibrahima Diallo arriving the season before.
A potential deal for Shields could see the club go into overdrive regarding a long-term building plan for the first team under still-highly valued manager Ralph Hasenhüttl, with the aforementioned Lavia also on Saints’ radar for a potential summer swoop.
