Southampton have agreed to pay up to £14million for Manchester City prospect Romeo Lavia.
The Belgian defensive midfielder has been at the Premier League champions since joining from Anderlecht in 2020.
Sportsmail reported in June that the highly rated 18-year-old Belgian was a target for a number of clubs, but notably Southampton and Leeds United.
City were reluctant to let Lavia leave but will insert a buy back and sell-on clause for the teenager, who made his first-team bow in the Carabao Cup last season.
Lavia is yet to make a Premier League appearance for City, but made a single appearance in both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup last season, and was regularly part of Pep Guardiola's wider matchday squad.
The deal will include buy-back and sell-on clauses for the Belgium U19 international. Southampton are also keen on City full-back Issa Kabore.
Another City defender, Japan centre-back Ko Itakura has joined Borussia Monchengladbach on a four-year deal for £4m
Itakura is thought to be keen on the move, having spent the past three seasons on loan at Dutch side Groningen and German team FC Schalke, who were reportedly unable to match the his £5.14m buy option.
