Celtic lead transfer chase for Man City defender as interest in Blues youngsters ramps up

Celtic lead transfer chase for Man City defender as interest in Blues youngsters ramps up

Manchester City are looking to send a number of their promising youngsters out to develop this season and there is plenty of interest

Jahmai Simpson-Pusey

Celtic are hoping to tempt Jahmai Simpson-Pusey away from Manchester City for a year with talks over a loan deal.

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The Scottish champions are ahead of a number of Championship clubs in their efforts to sign the 19-year-old defender who impressed at the Etihad last year.

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Simpson-Pusey made his first team debut under Pep Guardiola in October and was thrown in for a start to senior football that few at the City Football Academy have experienced, his full debut coming in the 4-1 Champions League defeat to Sporting. The teenager defender battled well during one of the most difficult periods for the senior side in a decade before injury ended his involvement with them.

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When Simpson-Pusey returned, he shone for an Under-21s side that topped the Premier League 2 under Ben Wilkinson and then went on to emerge as winners from the knockout stage, beating Liverpool, Arsenal and United along the way. The centre-back was named as the PL2 Player of the Season, marking the first time that a defender has claimed such a prize.

Simpson-Pusey had been earmarked for a loan before the season had ended after proving to be a cut above at academy level, and Celtic would be an excellent environment for the player to learn. Former Blues Jason Denayer and Patrick Roberts enjoyed their time at Parkhead, while Virgil Van Dijk earned a move to the Premier League from there.

"As a centre-back at this club this year he's had an unbelievable football experience," coach Wilkinson told the Manchester Evening News in May. "Being thrown into the team at a really difficult moment, performing to a decent level in that game and the players recover fitness and you're out of it and then back playing U21s.

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"You go from a Champions League game at Sporting to playing in front of 500. There's a huge change in that so for him to be rewarded with Player of the Season tells you how he's performed in those games. I always think he steps up in the bigger moments.

"He's had a great season and who knows what is next but he probably wants to leave U21 football and the fact he can leave it having lifted the Youth Cup at the end of last year and PL2 trophy this year means he can be really proud of his academy journey."

City, who saw youngster Farid Alfa-Ruprecht complete a £5m move to Leverkusen last week, are looking to send a number of their emerging talent players out on loan for the upcoming campaign. Simpson-Pusey's defensive partner Max Alleyne has also attracted attention, with Blackburn among the teams that have enquired for him, and full-backs Kaden Braithwaite and Lakyle Samuel could also head out for more regular football.

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There are also decisions to be made in the first team. Sverre Nypan is expected to go on loan and Claudio Echeverri and Vitor Reis have had plenty of interest as City finalise what their squad will look like for the coming season.

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