JUST IN: Three clubs race to sign Southampton 20-yr-old Lewis Payne

Football Insider has been informed by sources that Exeter City, Bristol Rovers, and Lincoln City

are interested in signing Southampton defender Lewis Payne this summer.

The Premier League team holds the 20-year-old in high respect, as he rose through the ranks at St Mary’s.

The gifted right-back made 41 games in all competitions while on loan at Newport County, a League

Two team, in the previous campaign.

In order to bolster their full-back options for the upcoming campaign, Exeter, Bristol Rovers, and Lincoln are considering loaning out Payne this summer.

The defender’s Southampton contract expires in June 2025, but in the upcoming weeks, it is

anticipated that he will negotiate a temporary move away from the Hampshire team.

Lincoln in race to sign Lewis Payne on loan after Newport success

Since he was given his first professional contract in 2022, Payne has seen his opportunities at

St Mary’s limited.

The right-back has only made one senior game for Southampton, helping the team defeat

Cambridge United 3-0 in the Carabao Cup in August 2022.

Payne joined Newport last summer following a brief loan period at National League team Eastleigh

in early 2023.

The youthful player earned 26 starts in his 41 games for the Welsh team, scoring two goals and

providing five assists, proving that his loan move was successful.

As Southampton won an immediate promotion back to the Premier League the previous season,

Payne is now anticipated to go out on loan once more this summer.

In an effort to bolster their rosters in preparation for the upcoming campaign, Lincoln, Exeter,

and Bristol Rovers are vying for the defender’s signature.

Exeter and Bristol Rovers both finished comfortably in the mid-table spots last season, while Lincoln just missed out on a League One play-off spot.

Get more related news on: https://sportviewers.com