Ten Manchester City youngsters braced for exits as club plot major development plan | OneFootball

Manchester City are bracing themselves for a significant summer of change within their more senior academy ranks, a new report has detailed.

With limited pathways into Pep Guardiola’s first-team squad, Manchester City have regularly opted to send prospects into the Football League or overseas environments to accelerate decision-making on long-term futures.

This approach has also been influenced by the success of previous academy graduates who either thrived after loan spells or generated substantial transfer revenue despite never becoming first-team regulars at the Etihad Stadium.

City’s recruitment and development staff continue to place value on identifying the right competitive level for each individual rather than retaining large numbers of players without clear progression routes.

Loan recalls, mid-season assessments, and permanent exits are now viewed as part of a fluid system rather than definitive setbacks. For several players, January and the upcoming summer window are expected to be decisive periods in determining whether they remain part of City’s long-term planning or move on permanently.

And according to a new report from Mail Sport’s Jack Gaughan, both Jahmai Simpson-Pusey and Finley Burns are set to be recalled in January from respective season-long loan deals at Celtic and Reading.

Elsewhere, it is revealed that Academy forward Emilio Lawrence is now deemed as ready for the next stage of his own progression out on loan in the Football League, while full back Christian McFarlane also has interest but is more likely to leave in the summer.

An extended list of Kian Breckin, Luke Mbete, Joel Katongo, Will Dickson, Seb Naylor and Justin Oboavwoduo are also all open to offers from Manchester City’s perspective, as per the report.

City’s stance suggests a willingness to streamline their academy ranks, particularly among players approaching the later stages of youth development without a clear first-team pathway. Permanent sales, often with buy-back clauses or sell-on percentages, remain a favoured strategy to retain long-term upside.

For those heading out on loan, the coming months will be viewed as an opportunity to demonstrate readiness for senior football on a consistent basis. Strong performances could still revive prospects of future involvement within the wider City Football Group network, even if Etihad opportunities remain limited.

Ultimately, the next two transfer windows are expected to be pivotal, not only for the futures of the individuals named, but also in underlining Manchester City’s broader commitment to a decisive and commercially astute academy development plan.