5 young players to watch out for in Man City pre-season | OneFootball

Manchester City have one of the most well-rounded squads in the history of club football but that doesn't mean youngsters won't get the chance to make an impression in their upcoming pre-season friendlies.

The Cityzens shook off competition from Arsenal and Liverpool to retain their Premier League title in 2023/24, putting together a stunning run of form in the second half of the campaign to usurp their rivals at the top of the standings.

The English champions have already recruited Savinho but a number of young stars will also hope to add their names to City's regular matchday squad. Impressing in pre-season is a great way to start, so who can fans expect to see over the next month or so before the 2024/25 term gets started?

Here are five City youngsters to look out for in pre-season.

1. Maximo Perrone

Perrone was on loan at Las Palmas last season / SOPA Images/GettyImages

Argentine defensive midfielder Maximo Perrone signed for Man City in January 2023 and made a couple of first-team appearances that season before departing for Las Palmas the following summer on loan.City have been impressed by the 21-year-old when he's trained with the squad, but concerns over his pace and physicality meant he was sent over to Spain to get more game time.He made 29 appearances in La Liga in 2023/24, with 20 coming as starts as Las Palmas finished 16th. He may end up departing temporarily again before the proper season gets up and running, but Pep Guardiola will want another proper look at Perrone.

Couto spent last season at Girona / Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/GettyImages

It seems odd to chuck a four-time Brazil international into a ranking of City youngsters to look out for, but Yan Couto has only recently turned 22 years of age and fans may not have seen too much of him following three loans.He helped City Football Group side Girona qualify for the Champions League for the first time ever in their history, starring with eight La Liga assists in 34 games while scoring two goals in all competitions.Kyle Walker will get a little more time off following England's run to the Euro 2024 final and Couto should be a beneficiary, sharing minutes with 19-year-old Rico Lewis down the right-hand side.

3. Micah Hamilton

Hamilton has already scored in the Champions League / PEDJA MILOSAVLJEVIC/GettyImages

After being named on City's bench for a Carabao Cup tie in September, Micah Hamilton made the most of his first appearance in the first team a few months later.The attacker scored the opening goal in a 3-2 Champions League victory over Red Star Belgrade in December, later earning a spot in City's travelling squad for the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup in in Saudi Arabia.A two-time England Under-20 international, Hamilton has progressed through the club's academy system and should get the chance to show off his versatility and eye for goal during the summer's friendlies.

4. Mahamadou Susoho

Susoho is another youngster hoping to impress / Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/GettyImages

Mahamadou Susoho is another youngster who got his first taste of action at the highest level against Red Star Belgrade, appearing for a 14-minute cameo off the bench.A tenacious ball-winning midfielder, the Spaniard has trained with Guardiola's squad regularly and was also part of the roster for the Club World Cup, though he didn't end up getting any minutes.The likes of Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne, Mateo Kovacic and Bernardo Silva could be eased into pre-season later in the summer, handing Susoho an earlier chance to impress.

Wright has played in the Champions League / Catherine Ivill/GettyImages

Another midfielder learning from the best of the best is 18-year-old Jacob Wright, who has played for England's Under-16, Under-17 and Under-18 teams.The midfielder got his maiden first-team minutes in a 5-0 FA Cup thrashing of Huddersfield in January earlier this year but has got consistent game time at youth level, breaking up play well and distributing the ball smartly.City begin their glamorous pre-season friendlies on Wednesday against Celtic and Wright will be hopeful for the chance to make it onto the pitch.