Girona receive green light from Manchester City midfielder over January transfer | OneFootball

Manchester City look poised to reposition highly-rated midfield talent Claudio Echeverri during the upcoming January transfer window, according to reports.

With the Argentine playmaker struggling to secure consistent minutes during his season-long loan at Bayer Leverkusen, attention has increasingly turned toward alternative pathways that better align with City’s long-term development strategy.

January is now shaping up as a pivotal moment in Echeverri’s future, particularly after a series of reports highlighting both the player’s frustration in Germany and Manchester City’s determination to keep him developing within European football.

Echeverri’s situation has been intensively scrutinised, with updates suggesting a growing disconnect between the player’s immediate preferences and City’s broader plan. While reports from Argentina have pointed to a desire to return to River Plate, City officials – backed by Pep Guardiola – have consistently favoured a European solution.

Echeverri has featured sparingly for Leverkusen, a situation that has triggered the relevance of a recall clause City inserted into the loan agreement – which can be activated in January, giving Etihad Stadium officials full control over the next step.

According to journalist Nil Sola, Girona have now reactivated their attempts at signing Claudio Echeverri from Manchester City ahead of the re-opening of the transfer market in January.

It is reported that the Argentine playmaker has already given his ‘Yes’ to terminating his ongoing loan spell at Bayer Leverkusen, and to play under Míchel at the City Football Group-owned La Liga side.

Should City proceed with a January recall as expected, Girona now appear well-positioned to finalise a deal. The La Liga side can offer regular minutes, a possession-based system, and a coaching environment trusted by City officials to nurture young attacking talent.

From Manchester City’s perspective, a move to Girona would represent alignment. The club’s priority remains exposure to European football, and placing Echeverri within a CFG environment ensures close monitoring of his progress while maintaining flexibility for future seasons.

As January approaches, all indications suggest that Echeverri’s time at Leverkusen may be nearing an early conclusion. Whether Girona can now translate the player’s approval into a completed agreement will likely determine how swiftly City bring clarity to one of their most closely followed youth development projects.