How Man City graduates have fared at Southampton ahead of Premier League reunion

Manchester City sold four academy graduates to Southampton during the summer transfer window - and a trio of them can now derail their former employers' Premier League title defence this weekend.

The quartet followed City's former head of academy recruitment Joe Shields to the south coast this summer after he became the Saints' head of senior recruitment. Shields has since moved on again to Chelsea, joining as co-director of recruitment and talent at the start of this year.

Those four Shields signings remain, though and two have become mainstays of the Southampton side. Gavin Bazunu has been ever-present in the Premier League under all three permanent Saints managers during a turbulent season on the south coast, notably keeping a clean sheet against City during Carabao Cup quarter-final.

READ MORE: Why City sold four players to Southampton last summer

Teenage defensive midfielder Romeo Lavia has also impressed, with Pep Guardiola praising the player before Saturday's match.

"I’m really impressed with what Romeo is doing. We have an incredible opinion of him," Guardiola said. "We thought to keep him but we didn’t have enough minutes for him that he could get at Southampton."

The 19-year-old has made 25 appearances in all, despite a hamstring injury, and was rewarded with a senior international bow by new Belgium boss Domenico Tedesco last month. The other two academy graduates have not faired quite as well.

Samuel Edozie has made 22 appearances, primarily as a substitute, but the 20-year-old forward has been unable to secure a regular starting spot. Juan Larios has also struggled for game time amid injuries. The teenage full-back has made just five appearances this term is sidelined for the season having suffered an