Manchester City are on a spending spree this summer, already acquiring Erling Haaland, Kalvin Phillips and find themselves in a position to sign Brighton left-back Marc Cucurella. With all these expensive signings, Manchester City have are trying to balance their books by selling Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling. Apart from them, Manchester City’s Youth Set up is finally bearing fruits as they have brought in a considerable amount of revenue by selling top prospects in CJ Egan-Riley, Gavin Bazunu, Darko Gyabi and Romeo Lavia.
One more highly rated prospect of Manchester City’s youth fullback Issa Kabore is set to leave the Etihad camp permanently in search of first-team action.
Premier League Club Southampton have been reported to conduct talks with the Burkina Faso international. Issa Kabore impressed the football fraternity while being on loan at Troyes last season and also helped his country to reach the semifinals in this year’s AFCON. Hence, players’ status has significantly improved since last December and other clubs are also fancying their chance to win Kabore’s signature. Southampton will have to pace up their approach because Ligue 1 team OGC Nice and PL outfit Nottingham Forest are acting swiftly for his services.
Valued at just £15 million, he could prove to be a bargain signing for Southampton or any club he moves. While a permanent move away from Etihad suits all parties as the player could get a chance to play in the Premier League under Ralph Hasenhüttl, a manager who is known to develop young talents. Also, Manchester City can profit from his sale and could use that money to balance their books or even fund Cucurella’s transfer.
Kabore made 38 appearances last season and provided 4 assists and maintained almost 80% passing accuracy at the club as well as the country level. Narrowly missing out on Ligue 1’s TOTS spot, Kabore helped Troyes to avoid relegation and finish 15th in the league. His overall gameplay is similar to that of young Kyle Walker’s. Kabore was awarded Young Player of the Tournament at AFCON for his impressive 3 assists in just 7 games and a run till Semi-Final.
With Joe Shield, City’s former Youth recruiter now on Southampton’s coaching staff; it makes sense why the Potters are targeting City’s youth academy prospects. Southampton are really looking to aim higher position next season and are building a sustainable team for the future, signing of Kabore perfectly suits the profile of the players they have signed this summer. With the acquisition of Bazunu and Lavia, Southampton are working for their future by signing highly-rated prospects who are ready to step onto the PL matchday field.
Ralph Hasenhüttl is reportedly keen to add Kabore to his young lineup and will probably use the right-back as the competition to Kyle Walker-Peters. Kabore has slim chances of making it to Pep Guardiola’s lineup at Manchester City owing to the presence of two competent right-backs in Walker and Cancelo, a move away to a midtable PL side like Southampton makes perfect sense.
