Manchester City has never shied away from the opportunity to pursue a big-name free agent but even with so much money to spend, even they will admit the need to produce homegrown talent that is developed within the organization. The Premier League and UEFA have introduced rules in order to force clubs to foster a certain amount of the talent on their roster and with City struggling to fulfill that criteria, they could decide to promote one or two of their young prospects that appear to be ready to take the next step.
Here is a quick look at four options for Manchester City to promote to the first team next season.
Marco Lopes, Midfielder
The 19-year-old Lopes has considerable potential as a playmaker in the midfield and after making 23 appearances in Ligue 1, he appears ready to take the next step. Lopes has already made a few appearances for City’s first team but consistency will be the key if Manuel Pellegrini is going to give him a longer look in his midfield.
There is no doubt about his incredible potential but in order to win his stay with the first team, it will be up to Lopes to produce every time he is given the opportunity and show that he belongs at such a relatively young age. No team in the EPL scored more than the 83 goals that City produced, so Lopes should be surrounded by plenty of quality talent when he’s on the pitch.
Jason Denayer, Defender
The 20-year-old Belgian made his professional debut while on loan at Celtic where he helped them win the Scottish Premiership and Scottish League Cup. He was a crucial piece on the back end. His 44 appearances for Celtic were a clear indication that he is ready to take the next step, even though the Scottish League is a step down from the EPL. But considering the Belgian national team has rewarded him with the opportunity to start on their squad, he’s more than ready to have a spot with City.
With Dedryck Boyata permanently gone, there is an obvious need on the squad for a defender and Denayer could be the perfect fit to slot right in to the mix. City only allowed 38 goals last season but that number is slightly misleading as they stymied a lot of weak foes. They could have been a bit better in big games.
Brandon Barker, Midfielder
The 18-year-old Barker is a huge talent and is part of a small group of young players that made the midseason trip to Abu Dhabi to play Hamburg in a friendly as well as a postseason trip to Canada and the US for some valuable experience. Barker earned Academy Players’ Player of the Year award for 2013-14 and showed off his explosive skill set from the wing last year, so City fans can’t wait to see what he can bring to their midfield when he is given the opportunity. Barker is poised for a chance to play with the first team but Pellegrini is seemingly well stocked in the midfield, so it might be a little longer before the young star gets his opportunity. He’ll have to beat someone else out for the minutes.
Karim Rekik, Defender
Speaking of young defenders that are ready for the opportunity to play for the first team, there is every reason to think that the 20-year-old Rekik is ready for the chance to prove he belongs with Manchester City’s first team. Rekik was loaned out to PSV Eindhoven for each of the last two seasons and even with Denayer’s emergence there is room on the team for a versatile defender that can play in the middle or on the flank. Rekik has proven he is ready over the last two seasons in the Dutch league and it will be interesting to see if he finally gets the opportunity.
