Manchester City plan to organise another loan move for teenage centre-back Juma Bah as part of his preparation for the first team. The 19-year-old featured for Real Valladolid and Lens in the French and Spanish top divisions last season, but Etihad bosses believe he is not yet ready to join up with Pep Guardiola's senior squad.
Bah was still playing in his native Sierra Leone until last summer, when Valladolid picked him up and thrust him almost immediately into the first-team picture. He made a big impact and completed a permanent switch to City in January, before heading out on loan to Lens for the remainder of the season.
There, he continued turning heads, starting eight league games and putting in an imperious performance in a 1-0 win at Marseille in March. But Express Sport understands that City chiefs feel he needs more time to develop before phasing him into Guardiola's plans.
A host of clubs in Europe's top five leagues are keen to take the 6ft 5in centre-back. Lens want to bring him back for another season, while Southampton are also in the mix, having appointed former Lens boss Will Still as their new manager last month.
Heading to St Mary's would allow Bah to acclimatise to English football under the guidance of a familiar face, and in an environment where he would be likely to get regular game time.
But sources have stressed that interest in the defensive prodigy is widespread. An as yet unspecified City star is expected to join Lyon on loan this summer as part of the agreement that has brought Rayan Cherki to the Etihad.
A move to Girona - the Spanish club part-owned by City Football Group (CFG) - could also be a possibility. One of Bah's agents, Dennis Mork, posted a picture from Manchester on Monday during a trip which included discussions about which option would work best for all parties.
Guardiola is well-stocked in central defence heading into the Club World Cup. Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji, John Stones, Nathan Ake and Josko Gvardiol are all senior options, while youngsters Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis may also get chances to impress.
All of the club's transfer efforts have been focused on positions further up the pitch. Rayan Ait-Nouri has been signed as an attacking left-back, and he is set to be joined by forward-thinking midfielders Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders.