Burnley and Southampton are reportedly interested in signing Manchester City youngster Jadel Katongo, who is catching the eye out on loan this season.
The 19-year-old is enjoying a temporary spell away from the Etihad Stadium at League One side Peterborough United, who are fighting for promotion to the Championship following a two-season absence.
Katango was originally brought to the Weston Homes Stadium to play in his natural position of centre-back, however manager Darren Ferguson has been utilising the player in midfield.
The defender has featured seven times in the third tier so far and is now also part of the England Under-20s, receiving his maiden call-up in October of this year.
According to transfer specialist Alan Nixon, there are a number of Premier League and Championship clubs who are taking note of Katongo's form in League One this season.
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The report claims that top-flight newcomers Burnley are interested in the defender, and could make a move for the player in either January or the summer transfer window.
It is understood that Man City legend and Clarets boss Vincent Kompany is an admirer of Under-20 international Katongo and views the centre-back as a potential 'long-term project'.
The Turf Moor club have put their faith in inexperienced options in their backline at the beginning of this term, with Dara O'Shea and Jordan Beyer forming the centre-back partnership in recent matches.
The Clarets have conceded a mammoth 32 goals in 13 matches since returning to the Premier League as Championship winners in August, including two in the defeat to West Ham United on Saturday, meaning that Kompany's men have now lost seven-straight home matches.
It is also believed that second-tier Southampton are monitoring the progress of Katongo, with the Saints on a mission to immediately escape the second tier following relegation from the top flight in 2022-23.
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The South-coast club have a good relationship with Pep Guardiola's treble-winning Citizens, with the likes of Gavin Bazunu, Shea Charles and Samuel Edozie arriving at St Mary's from the Champions League holders in recent times.
Southampton shuffled their footballing operations in the summer preparing for life in the Championship and recruited transfer boss Jason Wilcox, who departed Man City to link up with the Saints.
It is currently unknown whether the Citizens would be willing to terminate Katongo's loan at Peterborough in the New Year, with a view of selling the defender to an interested party during the campaign.
Burnley will be seeking to end a seven-game losing run across all competitions when they welcome fellow strugglers Sheffield United to Turf Moor on Saturday in the Premier League.
Carter White
