A young Manchester City centre-back seems to be the odd man out | OneFootball

One young centre-back who made his first-team debut for Manchester City last season was the impressive young centre-back Jahmai Simpson-Pusey. The young defender stepped up into Pep Guardiola’s squad in Manchester City’s hour of need during the difficult November and December period they endured. He showed glimpses of what he is capable of when he stepped up for his team last season.

But looking ahead to next season, it does seem like Simpson-Pusey is the odd man out and may need to leave Manchester City to get the first-team opportunities he needs to further develop as a player.

Jahmai Simpson-Pusey doesn’t seem to have an opportunity to play first-team football for Manchester City.

One position that the Manchester City squad doesn’t lack options in is at centre-back. Currently, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake, John Stones, Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis are all in City’s first team squad. It isn’t a knock on Jahmai Simpson-Pusey to say each player would be ahead of him in the pecking order of Pep Guardiola’s squad. That’s where the issues lie for Simpson-Pusey. There doesn’t seem to be a path for him into the Manchester City first team. Perhaps it is time for the young centre-back to go out on loan or leave City permanently to further his career.

Simpson-Pusey has served his apprenticeship in Manchester City’s EDS side.

Outside of making his first-team debut for Manchester City, Jahmai Simpson-Pusey had an impressive season in City’s EDS side. He was named PL2 Player of the Season for his efforts. He became the first defender to win the award which speaks to how well he played last season. But looking at what is best for his development as a player, another season in Manchester City’s EDS side likely isn’t it. Simpson-Pusey has served his apprenticeship at Manchester City. He now needs to play at a higher level to progress as a player.

But to do that he will likely have to leave Manchester City. As mentioned above, there isn’t a clear-cut path into Pep Guardiola’s squad for Jahmai Simpson-Pusey. He is almost the odd man out in the City set up.

The young centre-back is almost too good to play in City’s EDS side. But his path to City’s first-team appears blocked. So maybe a loan move is the best route to playing at a higher level for Simpson-Pusey. In a summer where a host of City players are linked with exits, perhaps Jahmai Simpson-Pusey should also be added to that list.