Promising Manchester City Midfielder Set To Leave The Champions – Right Call From The Citizens? | OneFootball

If a report from the Manchester Evening News is believed to be true, promising Manchester City teenager Jacob Wright is set to join Swansea City on the transfer deadline day. On Sunday, he was in South Wales to discuss terms and could complete an initial six-month loan, with an obligation to pursue a £4m permanent swoop in summer.

The 19-year-old England youth international progressed through City’s esteemed academy ranks. His emergence caught the attention of Pep Guardiola resulting in four senior appearances since January 2024. Despite being a regular for the reserves in Premier League 2, the midfield prodigy does not belong to the Spaniard’s immediate first-team plans. The club, therefore, would sanction his exit making him the next highly rated talent to part ways after Liam Delap, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, and Tommy Doyle’s respective summer transfers to Ipswich Town, Southampton, and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

CHESTERFIELD, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 15: Max Grüger of Germany battles with Jacob Wright of England during the international friendly match between U20 England and U20 Germany at Proact Stadium on November 15, 2024 in Chesterfield, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images for DFB)

Manchester City have spent more than £120m this winter to bolster the squad after a disastrous run of results across competitions. Rodri’s season-ending ACL injury has derailed their season and Guardiola, desperate to turn things around, splashed the cash over the past couple of weeks to tie down Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis and Omar Marmoush. They have plotted a last-gasp move for £50m-rated FC Porto midfielder Nico Gonzalez who only plied his trade to Portugal in July 2023 after progressing through the renowned ranks of La Masia followed by 37 first-team appearances for Barcelona during the 2021-22 season.

Why Manchester City Have Made The Right Call

The midfield ace, capable of slotting in both as a deep-lying playmaker and box-to-box option, could restore stability in the centre of the pitch after failed experiments with Ilkay Gundogan, Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes. Regardless of Gonzalez’s transfer, Wright is not even in contention to fill the void despite having a similar profile as the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner.

But a spell in Wales could help him shape his career in a better way. The Swans, struggling at the wrong end of the Championship standings, have suffered a significant blow following skipper Matt Grimes’ move to Coventry City. Although Swansea have also shortlisted Bobby Clark and Lewis O’Brien, Wright is leading the pack to emulate Grimes’ realm in the middle of the park.

The club captain has left for a fee in the region of £4m – an amount the Championship outfit would invest in the Man City starlet provided they avoid relegation to League One as per the obligation-to-buy clause. It’s a win-win deal for all parties involved, particularly the teenage prospect who has a very high ceiling.