5 Manchester City Youngsters Who Could Fulfil Homegrown Criteria Next Season

With Premier League rules meaning clubs now have to carry at least eight home-grown players, and with Greg Dyke, the FA chairman, looking to increase that number to 12, the pressure on clubs to buy British and bring through their own academy players has never been greater.

And with Frank Lampard and James Milner set to depart the Etihad in the summer, Manchester City could struggle to fulfil the quota next season. Clearly, an injection of home-grown players is needed in Manuel Pellegrini’s squad.

The likes of Raheem Sterling and Ross Barkley will surely interest the club, but given the premium placed on the very best English talent there’s no guarantee City will finalise deals for either. There’s better value in top European players.

This makes the integration of academy players even more important. City currently have a highly-rated batch, but which are the most likely to play a role next season? Here we take a look at five who are capable of augmenting Pellegrini’s senior squad.

1. Angelino

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Perhaps the player in the best position to make a long-term impact on City’s first team in the coming seasons is Angelino, an 18-year-old Spanish left-back making a name for himself in the EDS and Academy teams.

A technically gifted player with a desire to get forward as often as possible, Angelino appears to have everything he needs to become a top-class modern-day full-back.

And what’s most promising for him is the competition in his position isn’t quite as fierce as it is in other areas. In Gael Clichy and Aleksandar Kolarov, City aren’t blessed with a stand-out world-class performer. The Serbian, in particular, has struggled for form this season, and at 29 he’s unlikely to be around too much longer.

Angelino must surely be sensing a chance.

2. Jason Denayer

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What a week it’s been for Jason Denayer. The 19-year-old centre-half, currently impressing on loan at Celtic, made his debut for the Belgium national side in their 1-0 win over Israel on Tuesday. It was a huge moment for the man who has shown this season he is ready for a squad place at City next season.

He looks to have made excellent progress during his season at Celtic Park, where his partnership with Virgil van Dijk has been key to the club's treble bid. 

Expect him to be in contention for a squad role next season. 

3. Marcos Lopes

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On loan at Lille this season, Marcos Lopes, 19, has made a big impression in Ligue 1 and could easily come back into the City squad and supplement the first team.

He has already appeared for Pellegrini's side, against West Ham in last season's League Cup semi-final, where he was awarded the Man of the Match award after two wonderful assists, and against Watford in the FA Cup.

Technically, he's head-and-shoulders above any other player in the Lille squad. It's been a great season of development and he now looks ready to compete for a place at City more regularly. 

4. Karim Rekik

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After two seasons on loan with PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch Eredivisie, Karim Rekik, a left-sided defender, is surely well prepared for life in the City first team.

Rekik has impressed and can play at both left-back and centre-half, which, given City’s relative weakness in that part of the pitch, could play into his hands.

He is way ahead of many of City's other young players in terms of experience, which could be crucial in pushing him to the front of the queue for a place in Pellegrini's first-team plans.

5. Brandon Barker

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It’s probably a little too soon to be considering Brandon Barker for regular first-team football but anyone who has seen the 18-year-old play will know what a big future he has in the game.

A left-winger by trade, he is so comfortable with either foot he goes inside and out with ease, turning defenders and making life difficult. His close control is remarkable, and the quality of some of his goals this season has been breathtaking.

He won the Academy Players' Player of the Year award last season, and he's been even better this term.

Although unlikely to become a regular any time soon, he looks good enough to supplement the squad next season.