Southampton looking at Chelsea youngster Ben Elliott for January

Southampton look set to continue their raid on the Chelsea academy system after reportedly registering an interest in young Blues midfielder Ben Elliott.

According to a report from the Sun, Saints are competing with Brentford and Brighton for the 19-year-old’s signature despite Chelsea being keen to tie their highly-rated star to a new deal.

Southampton targeted the Chelsea youth system back in the summer transfer window and signed Tino Livramento and Dynel Simeu permanently before adding striker Armando Broja on a season-long loan.

Elliott – a central-midfielder – could be the next name added to that list if Southampton can tempt him away from Stamford Bridge with a clear pathway to the first-team.

Southampton making use of Chelsea whilst building their own system again

Southampton are renowned as having an academy that has produced some of the best English talent to progress through to senior football in the past 10 years. However, Chelsea have had a superb crop that have come through at their Cobham training ground more recently.

Meanwhile, the progression of young players through to the Saints first-team has dried up somewhat and the summer saw new plans put in place that will aim to start changing that over the next few years.

That is why Southampton have looked to sign some young players from the likes of Chelsea.

Whilst they get their own house in order and prepare to become the club recognised as a hotbed of talent once again, it is important to maintain a good amount of potential around the club to work with now and into the future.

They have also proven that they can give players that breakthrough into first-team football having handed hugely valuable game time to the likes of Livramento and Broja, so perhaps more players will now be open to making the same move from Champions League level teams to St Mary’s.