Last summer saw Southampton spent big on raiding Manchester City's academy, that is continuing this summer with the signing of goalkeeper Josh McNamara, but it seems that there is more business to be done with a defensive midfielder about to arrive at St Mary's.

Manchester City are leading the way in changing the way that English football is developing new players, they seem to be signing every young talent in the country at an early age.

There is method in their madness though, firstly although most of these players will not get to play in City's first team, they are good enough to make their mark at other clubs , this rakes in an income for City and helps them to balance the books in line with Financial Fair play rules, not to mention it keeps some prestigious talents out of the reaches of their competitors.

After a a quartet of youngsters arrived last summer, this seems to continue this season, certainly the arrival of City's academy director Jason Wilcox as Director of Football at St Mary's will play a part.

19 year old Goalkeeper Josh McNamara has already been announced, but the word in Manchester is that he is about to be joined by another teenage prodigy from the Etihad, Shea Charles.

Local media outlet Manchester Evening News seem to be confident that this is the case.

They say that Saints have secured the services of last seasons U21 side Captain Shea Charles for a transfer fee believed to be in the region of £10.5 million.

Saints have beaten off competition from the likes of Leeds United and others, presumably the influence of Jason Wilcox will have helped in this and could continue to help us benefit going forward.

This signing will take Saints past the £50 million mark in securing City youngsters since last summer and the Manchester Evening News say that this fee could rise to £15 million with appearances etc, although there is no mention of sell on clauses etc.

We look set to recoup the best part of our outlay so far when Romeo Lavia leaves and it seems that the man to replace him is potentially Shea Charles.

This will be a name that few Saints fans will have heard of, although he has played in the Premier League for City, that was just the once though in the final game of the season at Brentford where he came on as a sub for 27 minutes for what it turns out was his debut as well as final and only appearance in any competition for the club.

So who is Shea Charles ? well he is 19 years old and will turn 20 in November, he is primarily a defensive midfielder, although he has also played for City's academy sides as both a central defender and right back.

But despite a lack of first team action for City, he is a full international, he has played 8 times for Northern Ireland, split evenly between the Euro Qualifiers and the Uefa Nations League, he was a starter in 7 of those games.

Now it seems he is going to get the chance to show what he can do at Southampton, hopefully he will go on to emulate Romeo Lavia, who quickly showed his class and established himself in the centre of Saints midfield.

Photo: Action Images via Reuters

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