Manchester City held transfer interest in Idrissa Gueye reveals technical director | OneFootball

Officials at Manchester City were beaten to the signing of one in-demand forward during the summer transfer window, according to a club director.

The Etihad Stadium hierarchy have spent much of the past few years looking to expand their scouting network into untapped markets, with particular emphasis placed on South America, and emerging European leagues.

As seen with the recruitment of Claudio Echeverri from River Plate and the monitoring of numerous prospects from the Brazilian game in particular, Manchester City are continually on the lookout for prospects who can be integrated into the City Football Group pipeline.

In doing so, they often find themselves competing with some of Europe’s most savvy recruitment operations. Clubs within the RedBull portfolio in particular have built reputations for snapping up high-potential youngsters before elite sides can finalise moves.

Manchester City have not been immune to missing out on such profiles, however. While they remain able to attract players with world-class facilities and structure, some players prefer the promise of immediate first-team exposure elsewhere.

Now, according to the Pozzo family group technical director Gianluca Nani – speaking to Messaggero Veneto – Udinese beat City among others to the signing of 18-year-old Idrissa Gueye from Metz late in the summer transfer window.

The Italian side secured the highly-rated forward on an initial loan agreement containing an obligation to buy, whilst also defeating competition from elsewhere in the Premier League and in the Bundesliga.

Nani explained, relayed by TuttoUdinese and translated by Sport Witness, “[Idrissa] Gueye is a boy with the ‘X factor’, another classic Udinese move, given that he was being followed by clubs like Manchester City, West Ham, and Borussia Dortmund.”

For Manchester City, missing out on Gueye is a reminder of the competitiveness of the modern market, particularly when it comes to players on the cusp of breaking through in France among other top-rated European nations within the sport.

The 18-year-old forward’s decision to join Udinese highlights how game-time assurances and development pathways can outweigh the lure of a Premier League giant at this stage of a player’s career.

Looking ahead, Gueye’s progress in Serie A will no doubt be closely monitored by Manchester City’s recruitment department, as they have shown a willingness to revisit players later in their careers should the opportunity present itself.

Equally, the situation underlines why City continue to aggressively pursue talents at a younger age group, ensuring they do not miss out before players become hotly contested on the wider market.