By Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent

11th Oct, 2019 | 11:13am

Exclusive: Southampton plot January swoop for QPR star out of contract next year

Southampton are keeping close tabs on Queens Park Rangers converted left-back Ryan Manning, Football Insider can reveal.

The 23-year-old has had an outstanding start to the season since being moved from midfield to full-back by manager Mark Warburton.

A Southampton source has told Football Insider the club regard Manning as a January target and believe he can be prised away for a cut-price fee.

Manning is out of contract at the Championship club next summer, although QPR do have an option to extend the deal.

This makes the former Republic of Ireland Under-21 international attractive to suitors eager to snap him up for a cut-price fee.

Manning has made 13 appearances for QPR this season, including 11 in the league, and has played the full 90 minutes in each of those games.

He has been so consistently effective he tops the club’s charts for chances created, assists, crosses, tackles, possession won, touches, and fouls won.

The versatile Manning has been given a new lease of life by his move to left-back after spending most of his career in midfield.

QPR beat a number of clubs to Manning’s signature when they snapped him up from Galway United in January 2015.

He spent the first half of last season on loan at Rotherham United and became a regular starter at Loftus Road in the final months of the campaign.

He has made 63 appearances in total for the London club.

In other Southampton news, it can be REVEALED how the club sealed a BLOCKBUSTER deal worth £27million.