Southampton are reported to be competing with Coventry City for Aston Villa defender Kaine Kesler-Hayden this summer.
The Sky Blues are actively looking to recruit a right-back to compete with first choice Milan van Ewijk, who has been the club’s only specialist in that position all season.
Kesler-Hayden, 22, spent this season on loan at Preston North End, scoring two goals and registering three assists in 44 appearances in an impressive campaign that saw him make a clean sweep of the Lilywhites’ end of season presentation when he won Player of the Year, Players’ Player and Young Play of the Year.
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The Villa prospect is a former England youth international and captain of early age groups at his club, and has played 134 senior games, including three in the Premier League.
The Birmingham-born player has enjoyed a progressive development plan that started in League Two and progressed to League One and the Championship in loan spells at Swindon Town, MK Dons, Huddersfield Town and Plymouth Argyle prior to Preston.
The Southampton Daily Echo reports that Saints will look to sign a right-back amid the impending departure of Kyle Walker-Peters, and have been linked with Sturm Graz’s Max Johnston.
Birmingham World, however, claim that relegated Saints have joined the Sky Blues in the race to sign Kesler-Hayden, while Preston also want to keep their player of the season.
The report adds that Villa see the defender as a top-end Championship or lower Premier League player and value him at around £8million.
The Sun, however, reported at the weekend that Coventry have prepared a £5million bid for Kesler-Hayden, with Villa needing to raise funds.
The Villans are at risk of breaching Premier League profit and sustainability rules and have until June 30 to get themselves in the clear.
Kesler-Hayden signed a new contract at Villa Park last summer, although the length of his update deal was not specified by the club.
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