Claudio Echeverri considered for Manchester City recall in January with transfer plan clear | OneFootball

Manchester City are considering a recall of Claudio Echeverri from his ongoing loan spell with Bayer Leverkusen in Germany as soon as January, according to reports.

Echeverri’s early European journey remains under close assessment from club officials, having joined City in early 2024 before going on to make high-profile, cross-competition appearances under Pep Guardiola prior to his summer loan to Germany.

The 19-year-old attracted heavy attention from across Europe before Manchester City sanctioned a loan move to Bayer Leverkusen – seen as the ideal route to maintain top-level exposure and competitive minutes at a time when the Etihad Stadium’s own midfield was undergoing investment in the likes of Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders.

However, there has been growing scrutiny over Claudio Echeverri’s minutes and opportunities at Leverkusen in a situation that the German club’s hierarchy anticipated due to the club’s early season struggles.

According to the information of Ole, as translated and relayed by Sport Witness, Manchester City are now considering recalling Echeverri if he fails to receive 50 per cent of minutes with Bayer Leverkusen between now and the upcoming January transfer window.

It is once again confirmed that officials at Manchester City inserted a recall clause into the agreement signed off during the summer months, however it is not expected that Echeverri will remain at the Etihad Stadium in the event of a return.

The report explains that should Claudio Echeverri return to City in January, the Argentine will not be part of Pep Guardiola’s plans for the remainder of the season, with the plan being to send him back out on loan again during the same market.

Pep Guardiola remains a big admirer of Claudio Echeverri, but is committed to ensuring the player gains regular senior football rather than sporadic minutes in Manchester, as seen towards the end of the last campaign.

A January decision could also be influenced by the rising competition for creative roles in City’s midfield. With Rayan Cherki returning from injury with a fine performance against Swansea this week and talents like Divine Mukasa continuing to push for opportunities, an early return for Echeverri would never revolve around immediate first-team involvement.

Should a recall be triggered, City Football Group side Girona naturally emerges as a potential landing spot, with the La Liga club still expressing strong interest after missing out on Claudio Echeverri during the summer.

A Premier League loan cannot be perhaps ruled out either, with Manchester City increasingly willing to test emerging players in domestic environments, as seen with James McAtee’s pathway and his eventual big-money sale to Nottingham Forest in the summer.

Ultimately, Manchester City remain in full control of Claudio Echeverri’s development, and whether his Bundesliga spell continues beyond the winter window or he becomes one of the headline market moves, January shapes up as a significant checkpoint in the club’s long-term plans for one of South America’s brightest talents.