Former Aston Villa defender Alan Hutton can see Manchester City buying back Romeo Lavia from Southampton.
The 18-year-old midfielder arrived at St Mary's this summer in a deal costing around £12million, despite having never played a Premier League game.
However, five matches and a first senior goal, versus Chelsea, was enough to persuade London's Blues to table a £50million deadline day proposal for Lavia, says the Daily Echo.
Saints rejected the proposal with no intention of selling the future star just seven weeks after they purchased him in the first place.
City have retained a buy-back clause in all four of the youngsters they sold to Saints this summer, guaranteeing a significant profit at Staplewood if they are actioned.
Hutton told Football Insider: “They might (bring him back), that's why they put (the deal) in there," Hutton told Football Insider.
"They obviously see the potential the boy's got. He wasn't ready for the City team, but they see that he possibly could be in the years to come.
"They will just bide their time and see how he develops and if it's right for City and the player then he'll go back."
