Ranking the Manchester City Loanees on Chances of Regular 1st-Team Action

Given the £200 million investment made in their new academy and first-team training facility, it's clear Manchester City are desperate to produce their own young players capable of making the step up to the highest level.

Since the ADUG takeover in 2008, it's been much more difficult for them to get youngsters into their first team.

The huge investment in their senior squad means the gap between their young players have to bridge is huge, and very few have managed to make appearances at the top level, let alone sustain a regular place.

It will take time for their new academy to produce players of the necessary quality, but in the meantime they have a highly rated crop of talent coming through, many of whom are currently on loan to get some first-team experience.

But which of those currently on loan has the best chance of making it into the City side on a regular basis?

Here we take a look at their progress and rank them on the likelihood of becoming a part of Manuel Pellegrini's plans. The quality of the players blocking their route to the first team was considered, as was their ability and the experience gained during their loan spell.

Alvaro Negredo and Micah Richards were both discounted from the list on the basis they won't return to the club.

Negredo left for Valencia on an initial season-long loan move, but there is an automatic permanent transfer which will be triggered in June, and Richards' contract runs out in the summer when his loan deal with Fiorentina ends and he will move elsewhere.

7. Adam Drury

NAME: Adam Drury

AGE: 21

POSITION: Winger

After his loan spell at Burton Albion last season, winger Adam Drury joined St Mirren on loan this term and has played 14 times and scored three goals. He joined City at the age of 14 and signed a professional contract in 2011 but is yet to make a first-team appearance for the Blues.

At 21, and with so much competition for places at City in wide areas, his chances of making the grade at City appear slim at this stage.

6. John Guidetti

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NAME: John Guidetti

AGE: 22

POSITION: Striker

There's little doubt John Guidetti would probably have a number of first-team appearances at City under his belt if he hadn't suffered a debilitating virus that infected his nerves and led to a loss of feeling in his right leg back in 2012.

He had just enjoyed one of the most successful loan spell imaginable at Feyenoord in Holland, scoring 20 goals in 23 games for the club. He became a firm fans' favourite there but returned to City in a bid to find fitness when the virus struck.

He struggled, though, and ended up on loan at Stoke City last season, but he was rarely given an opportunity by Mark Hughes. This season, he moved to Celtic, where he has scored 11 in 15 and, once again, become a favourite with the fans.

At 22, it seems unlikely now he will ever be given a proper chance at City, and he will probably move on this summer.

5. Jordi Hiwula

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NAME: Jordi Hiwula

AGE: 20

POSITION: Striker

Coolness in front of goal has been Jordi Hiwula's defining characteristic since his school days, and the young forward has spent much of this season on loan at Yeovil Town.

He has struggled for goals in League One but did manage a winner in the FA Cup against Crawley Town, rounding the goalkeeper to finish comfortably early in the game.

His pace is an asset, and the partnership he developed with Devante Cole in City's EDS side impressed hugely. Further loan spells may follow, but he is considered a player capable of carving out a decent career.

4. Jason Denayer

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NAME: Jason Denayer

AGE: 19

POSITION: Defender

Jason Denayer is currently on loan at Celtic and has impressed. He was called up to the Belgium national side earlier this season, recognition for the high esteem he is held in back in his homeland.

Denayer has made it clear he sees his future at City, claiming in this interview with John McGarry in the Daily Mail that he wants to play Champions League football in blue next season.

Considered excellent in possession and a good reader of the game, Denayer sees Vincent Kompany as his inspiration. He has played 17 times for Celtic this term, scoring three goals, and he will be desperate to continue his good form there in the hope of catching Pellegrini's eye back in Manchester.

3. Devante Cole

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NAME: Devante Cole

AGE: 19

POSITION: Striker

If Devante Cole wasn't currently on loan at Barnsley, he may very well have started for City in their league game with Crystal Palace on Saturday.

The Blues are currently without Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic, leaving James Milner, a midfielder by trade, to play as the lone front man against the Eagles.

Cole, son of former City striker Andrew, is very highly rated. He has managed seven goals for Barnsley already this season and has played for England at multiple youth-team levels.

He is seen as a player with the physical attributes to become a star and still has a chance of making it at the Etihad.

2. Marcos Lopes

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NAME: Marcos Lopes

AGE: 18

POSITION: Attacking midfielder

Currently on loan at French side Lille, Marcos Lopes, known as Rony, is rated highly by those inside the Etihad. He has already made five appearances in cup competitions for City's first team and is considered to be a very technically gifted player.

The director of Lille's youth academy, Jean-Michel Vandamme, recently suggested via Get French Football News that Lopes has the ability to be a No. 10, not just a wide player, saying:

"

Eden Hazard is a solo player, Ron conducts the play. He forces others to play better, because he provides them with his services. Hazard is an attacker who can turn into number ten. Lopes is a number ten that can turn into an attacker. Ron Lopes is much more involved in the transition phases of play and he instinctively returns to defend.

"

The issue for Lopes is the array of attacking midfielders currently in Pellegrini's plans. Getting past the likes of Samir Nasri and David Silva won't be easy, but his experience at Lille will surely help.

He made 10 appearances for them this term before injury struck, and he will be desperate to return to City and fight for a place in the side.

1. Karim Rekik

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NAME: Karim Rekik

AGE: 19

POSITION: Left-back

After loan spells with both Blackburn and Portsmouth, and two seasons playing in the Dutch Eredivisie with PSV where his is currently, Karim Rekik suddenly has the look of a player with decent first-team experience for a 19-year-old.

He's played at both left-back and centre-back for PSV, and his time there has been hugely successful. The big positive for him in terms of his chances of getting into City's plans is Pellegrini's lack of options at left-back.

Gael Clichy has, in recent weeks, been superb, but he struggled for form earlier in the campaign, while Aleksandar Kolarov has consistently underwhelmed since his move from Lazio in 2010.

It's not necessarily an easy patch into the side, but it's clear left-back is a somewhat weaker area of City's squad than most others, and therefore Rekik will fancy his chances of making the grade, should his loan spell at PSV continue to be a success.