Man City set to add a TENTH club to their network after snapping up Belgian side

Published on: 05 June 2020

Manchester City are pressing ahead with plans to expand their group of clubs within Europe and continue hunting for new young talent this summer.

City Football Group added a ninth club to its stable last month with the acquisition of Belgian second division side Lommel SK and hope to conclude a deal to purchase Ligue 2’s Nancy in France.

At least one other team in central Europe is on the radar, while club scouts have been tasked with scouring the continent for new signings.

Those two tasks run partially in conjunction given the withdrawal from the European Union.

Without an extension to the Brexit transition period, due to end in December, Premier League clubs will only be able to sign players from the EU at 18, rather than the current legislation of 16, from next year.

That potential change makes a foothold in clubs across Europe an advantageous prospect for the likes of City, Leicester City, Watford and Barnsley – all of whom have followed similar models.

City are trailing a number of potential new recruits, primarily for their ‘emerging talent’ pool of players – a selection of players who could impact Pep Guardiola’s squad but are more likely to be loaned out in the short term.

Spanish defender Eric Garcia, full back Oleksandr Zinchenko and Philippe Sandler – who has been on loan at Vincent Kompany’s Anderlecht - are seen as success stories of City’s recent emerging talent recruitment.

Source: m.allfootballapp.com

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