Man City set to make Celtic FC transfer decision - Championship switch mooted | OneFootball

Manchester City's Celtic transfer decision could see one of the Premier League giants' chief young talents heading down to the Championship

Manchester City's impending decision on Jahmai Simpson-Pusey's loan move to Scottish giants is poised to have the EFL Championship on red alert, with a host of second-tier outfits potentially set to line up a mid-season raid for the highly-rated defender.

That's according to a recent report from Jack Gaughan of the Daily Mail, with the update tipping the Championship as a likely destination for the 20-year-old in the new year.

Simpson-Pusey has spent the first-half of the campaign on loan at Celtic, who have endured a rare interruption to their dominance on Scottish football's top-flight with Hearts currently sitting atop the league standings with a three-point advantage over Wilfried Nancy's side.

However, the Man City academy product is unlikely to be seeing out the full duration of his loan at Parkhead. Instead, it appears as though he will be set to return south of the border imminently, having been of reported interest to a clutch of unnamed Championship suitors prior to his move to Celtic back in August.

Man City set to make Celtic, Jahmai Simpson-Pusey transfer decision - Championship switch mooted

As per the aforementioned update, Man City will be recalling Simpson-Pusey from his difficult loan stint with the Scottish giants, in which he has made just one league appearance amid struggles with both injuries and, when fit, forcing himself into the first-team frame.

It's added that Simpson-Pusey "should head to a Championship side", and while it remains unclear exactly which sides will be submitting enquiries regarding the central defender's future, one can imagine he will have no shortage of suitors.

Just last season, the then-19-year-old made history by becoming the first defender to win the Premier League 2 player of the season award, which had previously been scooped by the likes of James McAtee and Liam Delap.

Simpson-Pusey's promising performances while captaining City at age-group level saw him enter the thinking of Pep Guardiola, who handed the youngster six appearances across all competitions in the 2024/25 campaign.

He featured twice in the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League apiece, while also turning out in domestic cup competitions in what proved a mini-breakthrough season for the highly-rated starlet.

Man City's Jahmai Simpson-Pusey may be ready for the Championship amid Celtic disappointment

All parties will undoubtedly share a sense of disappointment with how the deal has played out, as Simpson-Pusey arrived with plenty of expectation despite being fairly untested in senior football.

It simply hasn't worked out, and Simpson-Pusey will now have a point to prove as he mulls over fresh potential destinations heading into the winter window.

He needs to make good of his potential, and may be hoping to receive plenty of game-time in the Championship to vindicate exactly that to the Cityzens.

A modern, ball-playing central defender — typical of a prospect honed in City's youth ranks, of course — Simpson-Pusey's ability to bring the ball out of the backline, withstand pressure and spread the pitch may just render him an attractive proposition for Championship outfits who strive to deploy a progressive, possession-based brand of football.

Meanwhile, the fact that the England youth international has been on the fringes of Guardiola's star-studded City side and is held in a strong regard by the legendary Spanish boss speaks volumes. The potential is clearly there, and a Championship club could strike gold where Celtic failed to next month.