SOUTHAMPTON are ready to snap up teenage Irish midfielder Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh from Cork City.
The 18-year-old will cost a six-figure fee up front and is fancied by many.
Southampton lead the race to sign Joe O’Brien-WhitmarshSportsfile
The Saints and Middlesbrough are also keen on a loan deal for centre-half Charlie Cresswell, 21, who is out of favour at Championship rivals Leeds.
O’Brien-Whitmarsh has scored four goals from midfield in 27 senior appearances for Cork despite only turning 18 in May.
He has developed into a key player for the Rebel Army since making his first-team debut back in March.
The teenager also has international experience, having represented Ireland at under-15 and under-18 level earlier in his career.
Meanwhile, Cresswell could be loaned out once again by Leeds in January.
The defender spent last season with Millwall as his parent club were relegated from the Premier League.
However, he has failed to establish himself in Daniel Farke’s side so far this term.
Cresswell has not played a league match for over two months and has only made two matchday squads in that time.
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The Saints are also keen on a loan deal for Charlie CresswellGetty
As well as making just four Championship appearances, he has only played two minutes in the league since the third round of matches.
Like O’Brien-Whitmarsh, he has played for his country at youth level, scoring once in 14 caps for England’s under-21s.
One of those caps came as the Young Lions won the Euros in the summer.