SAINTS need to replace outgoing head of recruitment Martyn Glover and have reportedly approached one of the leading figures at Manchester City’s academy – Joe Shields.
The St Mary’s side are said to want to put Shields in charge of player trading, after helping to turn the Etihad side into one of the most formidable youth operations in the country.
Producing starlet after starlet, City are the current winners of both the Premier League 2 and Under-18 Premier League – after beating Saints at St Mary’s in the final last month.
Shields, who was originally assistant head of recruitment at Crystal Palace, is credited with recruiting the likes of Jadon Sancho, new Saints signing Gavin Bazunu, Liam Delap and many more.
Romeo Lavia, who was yesterday linked to interest from Saints, was signed in 2020 by Shields and has gone on to make senior debuts under Pep Guardiola at just 18-years-old, as well as new Borussia Dortmund signing Jayden Braaf are among them.
The Daily Echo understands Glover, also head of scouting at Saints but will move to Leicester City, is not leaving his post until the end of the summer – while Shields would likely not come in this window, due to notice periods.
Glover is still leading the discussions with potential incomings and players Saints are monitoring, and young players at the club whom have been signing new deals over the last few weeks and months.
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The Telegraph report that Shields is the first major recruitment figure Saints have approached since the takeover by new owners Sport Republic, as they look to fill the void that will be left by Glover’s departure.
The 35-year-old is said to be the leading candidate for the new head of senior recruitment at St Mary’s, in an overhaul led by Sport Republic CEO Rasmus Ankersen.
While City have infinitely larger resources to be able to put into their academy and club, generating fees and training compensation payments for out of contract players has been a key part of City’s academy strategy.
A move for academy chief Shields, following the appointment of 38-year-old Ruben Selles as Ralph Hasenhuttl’s new lead first-team assistant, suggests the club’s strategy of choosing high-potential options extends from the pitch to the backrooms.
Nurturing talent and potential with the right balance of experience can allow Saints to operate in that grey area, where below the big clubs in pull and finance. Shields joined City in 2013 and has worked his way up from head of south scouting to academy recruitment chief.
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