Manchester City's recent transfer business has signalled a slight change of strategy.
In the past few years, a lot of the club's finest youth talent has gone out on loan to experience first-team football on a regular basis.
The likes of Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Callum Doyle have both had successful loan spells and earned rave reviews at such a young age.
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Other players choose a different route and are determined to break into the City first-team.
Phil Foden is the major example, but Cole Palmer and James McAtee are also looking likely to stick around Pep Guardiola's squad this season.
Now, with the ever-changing Covid market, it looks like City have adopted a slightly different method when it comes to academy prospects.
To allow them to develop at a consistent rate, the Blues are sending youngsters to other clubs on permanent deals, earning a healthy fee and inserting buy-back clauses into their contracts.
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Some examples of that are Gavin Bazunu and Romeo Lavia, with the former already completing a £20 million switch to Southampton and the latter close to a £10 million move.
In addition, CJ Egan-Riley has joined Burnley after 10 years at City, with Harwood-Bellis joining him at Turf Moor on loan.
The latest player linked with a move away is promising right-back, Issa Kabore.
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Despite enjoying a successful loan spell at Troyes last season, it looks like the 21-year-old is still not quite ready for a run in City's first team.
Like the aforementioned pair of City youngsters, Southampton have contacted City over the availability of Kabore, according to Will Unwin at the Guardian.
Kabore's season at Troyes was seen as a massive success.
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He helped them to survival in Ligue One and was part of a side that pulled off a dramatic comeback against Paris Saint-Germain to draw 2-2 in early May.
Saints enjoyed a good start to the 2021/22 season, but tailed off over Christmas and finished in 15th place - only five points above the relegation zone.
Ralph Hasenhüttl's is looking to rebuild a depleted side and have supplemented their experience with some exciting youth talent.
City struggled against the South Coast outfit in the Premier League last season, drawing both fixtures.
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Topics: Manchester City, Issa Kabore, Ligue 1, Manchester City Transfer News & Rumours, Southampton
Harry Siddall