Manchester City stalling decision on first-team forward’s future amid interest from abroad | OneFootball

Manchester City are waiting till the summer to make a firm decision on the immediate future of January arrival Claudio Echeverri at the Etihad Stadium, as per several reports.

City confirmed the signing of the 19-year-old in January 2024 but loaned the Argentine back to his parent club till the January transfer window of the 2024-25 season, when Echeverri finally joined hands with Pep Guardiola in Manchester.

The teenager has impressed in training with the first-team squad and whilst he is yet to make his debut in a Manchester City debut, there are high hopes for Echeverri in the sky blue – having been signed by City from the same club as Julian Alvarez, who joined Atletico Madrid for £82 million last summer.

City added Savinho to their wide attacking ranks last summer and with Omar Marmoush also brought in from Eintracht Frankfurt in January, there is strong competition for places in the attacking spaces and for Pep Guardiola, this would present a welcome problem at any given time.

However, a big summer lies ahead for the Premier League champions enduring a battle to finish in the UEFA Champions League qualification places – currently sitting in sixth place in the league table – with several first-team starts expected to be on their way out.

Kevin De Bruyne announced last week he will be leaving Manchester City at the end of the season and there are doubts over the future(s) of Jack Grealish, Bernardo Silva, Matheus Nunes as well as academy graduate James McAtee – who has scored six goals in all competitions for his boyhood club this term.

Hugo Viana officially began work this week as the Portuguese prepares to take over from current sporting director Txiki Begiristain in the summer, though the latter has postponed his departure from Manchester City until the end of the upcoming transfer window to help his heir through the transition period.

As reported by Rob Dawson writing for ESPN, Manchester City are awaiting the summer to make a firm decision on Claudio Echeverri’s immediate future with the club as he remains yet to be named in a matchday squad by Guardiola.

Whilst that could change should Guardiola need to call upon the young Argentine to fill up numbers – especially after Erling Haaland’s recent ankle injury – it is unlikely that Echeverri plays any sort of role in Manchester City’s run-in.

César Luis Merlo has added that Echeverri will not make his Manchester City debut this season and whilst he continues to train with the first-team, a season-long loan for the 2025-26 campaign to City Football Group (CFG) side Girona has been mooted amid interest from Serie A side Lazio.