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Southampton have joined Leeds United in the race to sign Aston Villa striker Cameron Archer.
That is according to the Daily Mail, who report Southampton are keen on both Joel Piroe and Archer, but will face competition from the Whites.
Leeds are in the market for a new striker before the end of the window and Archer is among the names to have been heavily linked in recent weeks
Villa are open to letting him leave permanently this summer, but as per Alan Nixon, will demand a fee of £20 million, as well as a future buy-back clause of £50 million
Archer is also attracting interest from Premier League duo Sheffield United and Luton Town, though according to Sky Sports, the latter want a loan deal
Southampton join Leeds in Archer race
Like Leeds, Southampton are expected to have a busy end to the window having lost a number of players from last season’s first team squad.
Russell Martin is likely to have a big budget to reinvest into his side with Southampton having made well over £100 million in player sales this summer
That figure could also rise to closer to the £200m, mark, too, with Che Adams and Nathan Tella both linked with big money moves away, which would leave them in need of a striker.
Archer would represent a significant coup for either Southampton or Leeds if they were able to prise him to the Championship.
At just 21, he has already enjoyed prolific loan spells at Middlesbrough and Preston North End, netting 18 goals in 40 appearances.