Southampton: Teenage Premier League duo 'fit the profile' at St Mary's

Southampton targets James McAtee and Liam Delap fit ‘the profile’ of player Ralph Hasenhuttl is targeting, according to talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook.

The Saints have been credited with an interest in the talented Manchester City teenagers and could look to bring them to the south coast this summer.

In recent years, Southampton have adopted a transfer policy targeting highly-rated young stars who are unlikely to get many first-team opportunities at their current clubs.

That led to the arrivals of Tino Livramento for just £5 million from Chelsea last summer, while Armando Broja arrived on loan, and they have already repeated the trick this time around.

Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu has arrived from City in a deal that could rise to £15m if certain add-ons are met, with the 20-year-old replacing Fraser Forster between the sticks.

And the Republic of Ireland international is set to be joined by his former teammate at the Etihad Stadium after Southampton agreed a deal to sign midfielder Romeo Lavia.

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano revealed that a ‘full agreement’ has been completed between City and Hasenhuttl’s charges and that it will include a £40m buy-back clause.

The Athletic disclosed back in May that McAtee and Delap were two other City youngsters who were on Southampton’s radar, and Crook thinks they could be an ideal fit.

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He told GiveMeSport: “You look at some of the young names they’ve been linked with in terms of McAtee at Man City, Delap as well; I think that fits the profile.

“What worries me slightly is, does that then leave you with a lack of Premier League experience? I think they’ve got to get the right balance.”

McAtee, a 19-year-old attacking