According to the Telegraph, City are set to promote Marcos Lopes, Kelechi Iheanacho and Jason Denayer to the first-team squad next season, as they look to fill out the homegrown quota following the departure of three players already this summer.
Frank Lampard has departed the club following the expiry of his loan spell at the end of the season, while James Milner and Dedryck Boyata have already been confirmed as having sealed moves to Liverpool and Celtic already. This leaves City in a predicament, with just three homegrown players left in the current squad – Joe Hart, Gael Clichy and Richard Wright (although the latter’s contract is up this summer, and it doesn’t yet look like he’s been offered a new deal).
With that news, Pellegrini is allegedly considering promoting Marcos Lopes and Jason Denayer after respective loan spells at Lille and Celtic. The defender’s spell was markedly more successful, with the 19-year-old picking up the PFA Young Player of the Year award in Scotland. Lopes’ time was dogged with injuries, but he impressed when he played.
Kelechi Iheanacho has impressed in games for Patrick Vieira’s youth side despite missing part of the season due to lack of work permit and then injuries, and is currently in New Zealand participating in the under-20 World Cup. He’s also thought to be under consideration by Pellegrini, but to a lesser extent.
These players are thought to still be being considered by Pellegrini despite the big-budget targets like Raheem Sterling being mentioned as potential transfers this summer. The promotion of youngsters like Denayer to the first team would certainly satisfy City fans, with many having already been calling for youngsters to play a part next season for some months now.
