Girona eye Manchester City stars as green light issued to resume loan negotiations | OneFootball

Manchester City could once again be working closely with their City Football Group sister side Girona in the coming weeks as loan deals have been permitted to resume.

The latest development could pave the way for several City Football Group talents — including highly-rated names — to make a temporary switch to Spain’s top-flight for the 2025/26 campaign.

Girona, part of the Group’s portfolio since 2017, enjoyed a sensational 2023/24 season under Míchel, finishing third in La Liga and qualifying for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history.

Their rapid rise has made them an increasingly attractive destination for emerging talents, particularly those needing top-level experience without leaving the CFG ecosystem. In past seasons, Girona has benefited from short-term moves involving players from elsewhere within the Group — most notably Yan Couto and Savinho.

However, due to UEFA regulations and potential conflicts of interest with Manchester City competing in the same European competition, negotiations around new loans had previously been paused.

With that regulatory uncertainty now seemingly resolved or at least eased, attention turns to which Manchester City players could be Girona-bound in the coming weeks ahead of the forthcoming campaign.

According to the information of Núria Vilamala on Què T’hi Jugues, La Liga side Girona have now received the ‘OK’ to resume loan deals with the wider City Football Group, and particularly Manchester City.

From the side of the Premier League club’s squad, it is pointed out that highly-rated playmaker Claudio Echeverri is ‘highly liked’ but has other offers elsewhere in Europe, while central defender Vitor Reis is seen as ‘more feasible’ for Girona.

Echeverri’s name will excite both Girona and City fans, with the Argentine teenager widely regarded as one of the most gifted playmakers of his generation. Signed from River Plate, has only made a handful of senior appearances under Pep Guardiola but is attracting interest from other top clubs across Europe.

On the other hand, Vitor Reis may represent a more immediate and realistic option for Girona. The Brazilian centre-back has been quietly impressing coaches and scouts, with some within CFG believing a full senior loan is the natural next step in his development.

The situation now hinges on Girona’s squad needs and how aggressively they push for specific targets. With City’s pre-season yet to commence and internal decisions still being made about who stays and who goes, movement may not be immediate.

However, with Girona back in the loan market and the green light officially given, discussions are expected to ramp up before the end of July. For City supporters, the Girona connection continues to be a fascinating subplot in the wider strategy of the club’s global network.

Whether Claudio Echeverri or Vitor Reis make the move — or other names enter the frame — it’s another opportunity to monitor how the club develops talent at the highest levels of European football, even when not directly under Pep Guardiola’s watch.