SAINTS have reportedly contacted Manchester City over right-back Issa Kabore, who are attracting interest from the Premier League.
The 21-year-old defender is a seasoned Burkina Faso international with 27 caps and won the Africa Cup of Nations Youth Player award of the tournament earlier this year.
Kaboré helped his side advance to the semi-finals of the competition, only to lose on penalties to Cameroon in the third-place game.
At the end of the season, Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl told the Daily Echo that he intended to search the market for full back cover following Tino Livramento’s surgery.
The 19-year-old summer arrival returned to Staplewood for rehab after an ACL injury but could still be sidelined for the rest of 2022.
“Now we have been injured for a long time, we are doing something this summer on this position, it is also clear,” said the Austrian.
The Guardian have reported that the Saints have contacted Manchester City over the starlet, which they say Nottingham Forest have already been in talks with the Citizens to sign.
The report adds that the newly promoted Premier League rivals have not reached any agreement for Kabore.
The Saints have already attacked City for 20-year-old goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, and could still bring in 18-year-old midfielder Romeo Lavia this window.
Under Sport Republic, Martin Semmens and Hasenhuttl continue their policy of recruiting the best young players available.
Kaboré was loaned out to Troyes in France’s Ligue 1 last season, making 32 appearances in all competitions. He’s yet to make a senior appearance for Pep Guardiola.
Initially spending his youth career at Burkinabe club Rahimo FC, the flying full-back also impressed in Belgium with KV Mechelen.
Kaboré is contracted to City until 2025 but, as seen with other deals Saints have made, big clubs are often willing to negotiate a reasonable fee for talent with the right clauses.
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