Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent

Fri 17 January 2020 19:55, UK

New York Red Bulls are in advanced talks to sign Southampton winger Josh Sims again this month, Football Insider understands.

Sims spent the first half of this season on loan at the Major League Soccer side before returning to the Saints in December at the end of the MLS season.

A source at St Mary’s has told Football Insider that New York are in advanced talks with the attacker over returning stateside in another loan for the start of the 2020 campaign.

It is understood that manager Ralph Hasenhuttl feels he has enough cover in his squad to allow Sims to go out on loan to get regular first-team action over in the USA.

He has come back to find himself down the pecking order under Hasenhuttl and he could struggle to break into the side following the Saints’ fine recent run of form.

New York Red Bulls were keen on taking him back ahead of the new MLS season and they have agreed a deal with Southampton to take the former England Under-20 international on loan again.

 

Sims joined Southampton’s academy from arch-rivals Portsmouth in 2012 and has made 27 first-team appearances for the Saints.

He has had loan spells at Reading and NY Red Bulls during the last two seasons and he is now set for another loan move away from St Mary’s.

In other Southampton news, it can be REVEALED the Saints have set their sights on signing a Fulham star with a £7million price tag.