Southampton interested in summer Man City transfer swoop - he has a connection to Will Still | OneFootball

Southampton are eyeing a move for a young Manchester City star

Southampton are reportedly leading the race to sign Juma Bah on loan from Manchester City this summer.

According to Africa Foot, the Saints are in pole position in their bid to sign the defender, who previously played under manager Will Still at Lens last summer.

The 19-year-old is a highly rated young prospect coming through at City, having signed for the club earlier this year from Real Valladolid.

He immediately went out on loan to Ligue 1 outfit Lens, where he went on to feature 10 times in Still’s side, helping them finish eighth in the table.

Southampton’s Juma Bah interest revealed as Leeds United also lurk

Southampton are reportedly interested in completing a deal to bring Bah to the club this summer on a temporary basis.

The report states that the Championship side are leading the race to sign the centre-back on loan, potentially reuniting him with Still from his brief time in the north of France.

It is hoped that Bah can play regularly in order to develop and potentially become a part of Pep Guardiola’s first team plans at the Etihad Stadium in years to come.

However, Southampton do face competition in the race for his signature, with Leeds United, Paris FC and Koln also all interested in him.

The Sierra Leone international earned a strong reputation for his performances in the French top flight last year.

Still is now looking to reunite with the defender, as he looks to build a team capable of competing for promotion back to the Premier League this season.

Will Still eyeing up Juma Bah for Southampton would make a lot of sense

Bah played well in Ligue 1 last season under Still, so it would make sense for them to re-unite in the 2025-26 season so that the Sierra Leone international can continue his development.

The defender is a very highly-rated prospect, and his addition will be exciting for Southampton if they can get a deal over the line.

The Saints will be hoping he can make a smooth transition to the side given his history with the new manager, which should also help the coach to establish his style of play more quickly.

It’s encouraging for supporters if they can get this deal done quickly, showing a proactivity in the market that can help them make a strong start to the Championship campaign, as promotion will be eyed up at the earliest opportunity.