Brighton are interested in Manchester City youngster Cole Palmer, although the Seagulls would want to sign him on a permanent deal rather than on loan.
City have enjoyed two successive summers of good business when it comes to their academy products, proving that the £200m investment made in the City Football Academy a decade ago was more than worth it.
Last summer City raked in a combined total of £42m from selling Romeo Lavia, Gavin Bazunu, Sam Edozie and Juan Larios to Southampton, despite the quadruple sharing just three senior appearances between them.
This transfer window the treble winners have already brought in £15m from the sale of Shea Charles, while England’s U21 European Championship hero James Trafford is expected to cost Burnley up to £19m.
More could follow and others have gone out on loan, but one name City fans will not want to see depart is Cole Palmer.
Brighton want Palmer on a permanent basis
The Wythenshawe-born winger has been a regular fixture in the City first-team squad since his breakthrough in 2021/22, but last season he struggled for fitness and minutes.
The 20-year-old has travelled with Pep Guardiola’s squad for the pre-season tour in Japan, but City are considering sending him out on loan this season.
Brighton are one of the clubs interested in Palmer, and due to their style of play under Roberto De Zerbi, City would be happy for him to spend time there.
However, according to The Athletic’s Brighton correspondent Andy Naylor, the Premier League side would want to sign the attacker on a permanent transfer, rather than a loan.
MCN view: City have a tough decision to make
After a stop-start season ravaged by injury, Palmer would almost certainly benefit from regular minutes, something he won’t necessarily get at City.
However, Guardiola is a big fan of Palmer and knows he is good enough to make it at the club – in 2021 he hailed the youngster’s ‘special quality’ after scoring his first Champions League goal.
City have reportedly turned down offers for youngster James McAtee who excelled on loan at Sheffield United last season. Perhaps they have decided that he is now a better fit for the first-team than Palmer.
