SAINTS and Wolves are reportedly set to battle for 17-year-old American goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina, after sanctions on Chelsea supposedly led to an agreed deal falling through.

Slonina is an academy graduate of Chicago Fire and became the youngest goalkeeper to start and keep a clean sheet in Major League Soccer, when he made his debut for the club last August.

The United States youth international captain has gone on to start all six MLS matches this campaign, keeping four clean sheets and conceding just twice.

It had previously been reported by transfer guru Fabrizio Romano that Roman Abramovich’s Blues had agreed a deal to bring the American to Stamford Bridge, after loaning him back to Chicago this year.

However, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Abramovich’s Blues have been sanctioned by UK Government and effectively placed under a transfer and contract ban, as a result of the oligarch’s ties to Vladimir Putin.

Romano reported that talks with the talented Slonina then broke down as a result, while journalist Alan Nixon now reports Saints and Wolves have stepped into the breach to snap up the youngster.

The six-foot four-inch stopper is under contract with his club for the remainder of this year, with an option to add an additional year, so he would likely command a fee to bring him over the Atlantic.

Saints are reportedly edging the race, and have a long-term goalkeeper problem to fix with all three of their seniors aged 32 and above, with Fraser Forster now 34-years-old and Willy Caballero 40.

Alex McCarthy, who has signed a new contract with Saints as the FA intermediary spending report revealed, is 32 and looks set for a longer St Mary’s stay – but Forster and Caballero’s terms both expire this summer.

Slonina would likely be a look to the future, if Saints can edge out any competition for his signature, but Ralph Hasenhuttl has not been shy in introducing young players to his first-team squad.

He and CEO Martin Semmens have been vocal about their desire to find the best young players for a modest price, under new owners Sport Republic.

Hasenhuttl recently revealed that the club have been discussing whether to target more experience in this upcoming transfer window, though.