Pep: Tighter loan rules will lead to clear-out
PEP GUARDIOLA admitted Manchester City could be forced to change their business model as a result of new loan rules. FIFA are planning to implement restrictions from 2020 on the number of youngsters clubs are allowed to loan out per season to between six and eight. City have 28 young players on loan across Europe, second only to Chelsea’s 39. Guardiola believes they are set for a mass exodus over the next two summers and a rethink is required about the number of signings they make. He said: ‘The new rules are coming. If we don’t believe they are going to play and if we cannot loan them we are going to sell them. If it is not possible to loan them, we are not going to buy them.’ FIFA said their proposals are designed to aid ‘the development of the regulation of loans of players for the purpose of youth development as opposed to commercial exploitation’. City are regularly accused of ‘stockpiling’ youngsters and have made in the region of £100million from the sales of academy products. Loanees Jack Harrison at Leeds United, Tosin Adarabioyo at West Bromwich Albion and Aleix Garcia and Patrick Roberts — both at sister club Girona — are all highly thought of but would be candidates to leave. City, who face Bournemouth at home today, could allow players to develop in the Premier League’s Under 23 division but Guardiola offered a withering assessment of its merits. ‘The second team is playing in a poor league in terms of competitiveness and it’s difficult for them to visualise spending more years here playing in front of 10 people,’ he said. ‘It’s no competition. Our loan players are in good leagues.’ Guardiola looks likely to lose Brahim Diaz to Real Madrid, who may bid for the 19-year-old in January despite him having a contract until the end of the season.