Southampton are close to appointing Manchester City youth scouting expert Joe Shields as their new head of first-team recruitment, with influential talent-spotter Sam Fagbemi a contender to replace him at the Etihad.
Shields, who has developed a reputation as one of the best identifiers of young players in European football, is poised to leave City this summer to take up his first role in senior recruitment at St Mary’s.
The news comes as a blow to City given Shields' expertise in youth recruitment. The scout was famously credited with bringing Jadon Sancho to City in 2015.