Tottenham and Manchester City have reportedly become disheartened after learning of Southampton's asking price for Tyler Dibling. The Saints look certain to be relegated from the Premier League over the coming weeks, but they are determined not to lose their teenage talent on the cheap, and they have pinned him with a staggering nine-figure price tag to send a message to his suitors.
Dibling has been a shining light for Southampton fans during a season which has given them little to smile about. The versatile forward, who only turned 19 last month, has scored twice in the Premier League and racked up 21 starts across all competitions.
Often, Dibling has been the liveliest player on the pitch for the side sitting rock-bottom of the table, 17 points from safety and on course for one of the lowest Premier League points totals ever.
And big clubs have been attentive to him for some time. Spurs and City are two of his primary suitors, and The Telegraph claim they will have to fork out a whopping £100million to meet Southampton's demands, with the Saints prepared to adopt a hardline stance in order to maximise their returns on one of English football's standout youngsters.
That figure is said to have 'frustrated' interested parties ahead of the summer transfer window. Manchester United, Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig have also sent scouts to watch Dibling since his Southampton breakthrough.
Tottenham are believed to have shown the most serious interest in Dibling, with their first inquiries sent in January, and contact set to ramp up again at the end of the season. But a nine-figure asking price could rule them out of a deal, particularly with no chance of Champions League qualification for next campaign.
City have cash to burn and they showed their intent with a January spending spree. A poor season is set to see manager Pep Guardiola backed in the summer window, during which he will be helped by new sporting director Hugo Viana.
Dibling going for £100m would make him one of the most expensive Premier League signings of all time. To date, Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo, Declan Rice and Jack Grealish are the only players whose transfer fees have surpassed that mark.
Exeter-born Dibling joined Southampton's academy at the age of eight and spent a brief time in Chelsea's youth set-up before heading back to the south coast. The teenager is capped up to Under-21 level with England, but he turned out for the Under-19s during the current international break.