Saints move for City academy chief Wilcox

SOUTHAMPTON have made an ambitious approach to make Manchester City academy chief Jason Wilcox their new director of football.

Wilcox, a Premier League winner with Blackburn Rovers, has built up an outstanding reputation as City’s academy director.

He has been at the club since 2012, working as Under 18s head coach at one stage, before taking his current role in 2017.

Southampton, who lost director of football operations Matt Crocker last month, have identified the 51-year- old as the man they want to oversee a shake-up.

Sportsmail understands that Southampton are prepared to offer Wilcox a lucrative package and he would be eager to listen to what they have to say. City are braced to hear that he wants to leave and understand why he would want to speak to Saints.

Some will see the move as a gamble, given Southampton are bottom of the Premier League and in a wretched run of form under new manager Nathan Jones.

But the opportunity to work within a senior environment appeals to Wilcox.

The two clubs, who face each other tonight in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, have enjoyed a good relationship.

This was shown last summer when Southampton signed four City youngsters — Gavin Bazunu, Romeo Lavia, Juan Larios and Samuel Edozie.

Southampton raided City’s scouting department last summer for Joe Shields but he shocked both clubs in the autumn when he left abruptly to join Chelsea.