‘Pep Guardiola has seen something’ – Man City’s Claudio Echeverri transfer stance revealed
Manchester City’s stance over a Claudio Echeverri transfer has been revealed at the Etihad Stadium.
Echeverri joined Man City in January 2024 from boyhood club River Plate, with the deal worth around £12.5million.
The 19-year-old spent the remainder of 2024 with the Argentine club before returning to the Etihad in January this year.
The attacking midfielder registered four goals and eight assists during his time with River Plate.
Echeverri made his debut for Pep Guardiola’s side in the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace in May, coming on a second-half substitute in the 1-0 defeat at Wembley.
Roma have been looking to agree a deal for Echeverri this summer, with Man City believed to be open to sending him out on loan.
However, Argentina-based journalist Cesar Luis Merlo reported on 7 August the Premier League side have rejected Roma’s season-long loan offer, which included a mandatory purchase clause of £28.5million.
Claudio Echeverri set for loan move
This article contains exclusive comment from Stefan Borson, a former financial adviser to Man City.
Echeverri got on the scoresheet for Man City in his only appearance at the recent Club World Cup, where Guardiola’s side secured a 6-0 victory over Al-Ain.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Borson said: “He’s definitely going to go on loan.
“City are not interested in anything that gives the other team the option to buy him because they rate him very highly.
“I mean, the fact that Pep brought him on in the FA Cup final when City were losing for his debut, that says Pep must have seen something in training to think this guy has got something to do that.
“That is not a Pep Guardiola-type thing to do, so I think City rate him very highly.
“I think he’ll go on loan. He might even end up going to Roma.
“It’s just that they won’t be giving anybody an option.”
Man City make Ilkay Gundogan transfer decision
In terms of other transfer activity, Football Insider revealed on 9 August Man City plan to keep Ilkay Gundogan despite speculation surrounding a possible move to Galatasaray.
Guardiola is reluctant to let the veteran midfielder go before the window closes, with his experience providing a valuable asset to a new-look squad at the Etihad.
Galatasaray were believed to be plotting a move to sign Gundogan as part of their spending spree this summer.
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