Sources: West Ham and Southampton among a number of clubs scouting non-league full-back
Yesterday at 03:15 PM
TBR Football can exclusively confirm that West Ham United and Southampton are among a number of clubs eyeing Havant & Waterlooville’s Reuben Livesey-Austin.
With the January transfer window now in full swing, the likes of West Ham and Southampton – and many other clubs – will look to strengthen their ranks.
A fair few players have come up from non-league into the upper levels of the football pyramid and done very well, such as Ian Wright and Jamie Vardy.
Now, West Ham and Southampton could potentially look to unearth another gem from non-league, though other clubs are also keeping tabs on him.
READ MORE: Joe Cole says he directly told David Sullivan to sign £80m player for West Ham
West Ham, Southampton and Brighton scouting Reuben Livesey-Austin
TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey understands that a host of clubs are tracking non-league starlet Reuben Livesey-Austin.
The 20-year-old left-back is a former Portsmouth trainee and moved into the non-league ranks, joining Havant & Waterlooville in the summer.
He is having an outstanding season for the Hampshire outfit and a host of clubs have been flocking to watch him in recent weeks.
TBR Football can reveal that West Ham, Southampton, Brighton & Hove Albion, Middlesbrough, Cardiff City, Charlton Athletic and Peterborough United have been doing checks on him.
Reuben Livesey-Austin factfile
Livesey-Austin is a 20-year-old footballer who plays for Havant & Waterlooville in the Southern League Premier Division South, the seventh level of English football.
He came through the ranks at Worthing Town, taking in a short loan stint at Bognor Regis, before joining the Hampshire-based club on a free transfer last summer.
Worthing’s official website features a biography of Livesey-Austin in which they wrote: ‘Cool, calm and collected, this (then) teen plays like someone with far more experience.
‘A regular for our academy and under-eighteens over the past few seasons, wearing the Captain's armband with immense pride.
‘Natural leader on and off the pitch, "Reubs" was a surprise inclusion in the starting eleven that took to the field against Oxford City on November 8th.
‘The secret was soon out though and he kept his place for the FA Trophy tussles with Weymouth and then National League Maidstone United, at The Gallagher Stadium.
‘Played a handful of games for Lancing last term too and claimed the prestigious Steve Hoare Award to mark his rise through the ranks form U14s to First's.
‘Not simply for his ability on that pathway but also for doing it while embracing the club's values.’
