Manchester City have a lot of focus on their backs in 2024/25, having moved to an unprecedented level in English football by winning the title last season.
The key to success is always innovation and evolution so you never let the competition catch you. While the obvious way to do that is to spend in the transfer market, allowing young players a chance to step up can also have huge benefits as long as they are good enough.
The city has some of the best facilities anywhere in the world at its Etihad Campus and is polishing up emerging gems all the time.
The obvious Phil Foden aside, Rico Lewis is a good example of the past two years of opportunities given to young players in Pep Guardiola's team. The right-back has made 50 appearances in 2022/23 and 2023/24 and continues to be a key member of the squad.
Here are four names who could be on the line for the 2024/25 season…
City fans have been given plenty of reasons to be excited about what Oscar Bobb can do. The Norwegian striker has been with the club since he was 16 years old, progressing to the final stage of school, to make his debut for his club less than a year ago.
Bobb played 26 times in all competitions last season. That outing amounted to almost 800 minutes, but it was an important step to prove himself to Guardiola at the top. That was followed by pre-season and the start of the Community Shield.
The 21-year-old is already a Norway international – a teammate of Erling Haaland, who has represented his country eight times since 2023.
James McAtee, along with the aforementioned Bobb, is how City and Guardiola plan to replace Julian Alvarez following his £81.5m move to Atletico Madrid.
McAtee, a Salford boy who has been with City since the age of ten, has been preparing for this season by spending the last two seasons on loan with Sheffield United in the Championship and Premier League – he has played 75 games. the Blades.
The 21-year-old was one of the youngsters to make his debut in the Community Shield, having previously been earmarked for a key role by Guardiola this season.
“I would like to keep him next season with us, because he is a special boy to play in small areas, in pockets, and we don't have many,” said the manager. “He is a player I have a high opinion of, and I would like it if he can contribute well to the team.”
“He's very smart, very good,” is how Guardiola described Nico O'Reilly following the Community Shield. That was the first team game for the 19-year-old midfielder, who is more than six meters tall, although he started training with the senior team in early December 2022.
O'Reilly has an elegant and flowing style, while he is known for his incredible eye, once scoring a stoppage time winner in the Under-18 Premier League.
The best thing he can do right now is to continue to immerse himself as much as possible in those around him.
Argentina midfielder Maximo Perrone will need some support to get a real shot at the break, especially given the competition ahead of him. But the 21-year-old played regularly during the pre-season and spent his loan spell last season.
Perrone made 29 La Liga appearances, most of them starts, for the Las Palmas side that managed to survive in the top flight following promotion in 2023, gaining valuable experience along the way.
So far, he has only made two appearances for City's first team, but could be a useful replacement.
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