EFL CUP City boss destined for the top... and it’s not Guardiola! PEP IDOL JOHNSON
ETIHAD EYE DEAL WITH LEE TO BRING ON KIDS Newmarket 36 5ft 6ins (1.68m) Midfield Oldham Barnsley Bristol City Was asked to play for Gibraltar at Euro 2016 Santpedor, Spn 46 5ft 11in (1.80m) Defence Barcelona Munich Man City Guardiola has won 22 trophies i
MANCHESTER CITY are considering high-flying Bristol City as a loan destination for some of their emerging young stars.
Blues coach Pep Guardiola has been so impressed by the work of Ashton Gate manager Lee Johnson in moulding the Robins into an attractive, football-playing force, the Premier League’s runaway leaders want to open a line of communication.
Until now, City have sent many of their promising young players out of the country on loan to Spanish La Liga club Girona in and NAC Breda in Holland.
The Manchester club currently have NINE of their top talents in Spain and Holland – but Guardiola admires what he’s seen of Johnson and Bristol City.
And he’s more than happy to pursue dialogue between the clubs over loan players.
There’s no suggestion of an official tie-up, but Guardiola likes Johnson’s work in the West Country, his attacking philosophy and insistence on his stars having the bravery and freedom to play. Johnson had a short meeting with Guardiola after the recent EFL Cup semi-final first leg between the two teams at the Etihad.
The pair meet again on Tuesday in the second leg with Guardiola’s side hoping to increase their 2-1 advantage and secure a place in the final against either Arsenal or Chelsea on February 25 at Wembley.
It’s not the first time Johnson has engaged with City officials after the Premier League giants gave the former Oldham boss unique access to their business model with a trip to New York City while he was still in charge at Boundary Park.
Steal
Ambitious Johnson is seen as one of the Championship’s brightest young bosses and he cheerfully admits to gaining knowledge wherever he can.
Johnson said: “If there’s something I think I can steal to make me a better manager and coach then, trust me, I’ll steal it.
“The best coaches are the best thieves!
“Brian Marwood i s an i mportant member of the Manchester City Football Group and he is someone I have had good contact with for a number of years.
“I did a lot of work with personality profiling and leadership expertise when I was at Oldham. Boundary Park is just down the road and City allowed me to get an insight into their philosophy as a football club.
“Part of my learning enabled me to go out across their football group and understand how it all works.
“Manchester City have been great with me and I took a trip out to New York City FC. I thoroughly enjoyed i t , and l earned about some of the issues they have setting up different franchises. “I got an insight into the different property issues when you’re setting up a football club, such as purchasing a training ground – as well as a lot of other important and interesting things. “It was an important part of my football education and I did a case study for my pro licence about what I experienced.
“What City did has certainly helped shape me into the manager I have become and hope to be.
“I have really tried to implement different things I saw at the football clubs where I’ve worked.
Bubble
“I am always learning. As a young manager I try to pick up information wherever I can. I was the same as a player. I have my own bubble, my own philosophy, but I am always trying to evolve and improve. If that means tapping into someone else’s knowledge then I’m happy to do that. I am honoured and privileged that the people who have built Manchester City into this fantastic football club allowed me to come in and get an open and honest insight into what they are about.
“As a young English manager I think that can only be a positive. The first leg at the Etihad was a great thrill because Manchester City have been an important part of my progression.
“And I make no secret of the fact that what I learned at Manchester City has had a big influence on what I have tried to introduce to the Bristol City model and project.”
“He has seen all the promises of future investment in the club from her and he knows it makes good reading. But quite simply he hasn’t seen proof that the money is in place and has effectively pulled the plug until that situation changes.”
But the insider added boss Benitez won’t be left in limbo with the transfer window closing in 10 days.
Ashley, who has the club up for sale at £350m, will fund the necessary spending with Benitez insisting that without the right recruitment Newcastle are in grave danger of returning to the Championship after just one season amongst the elite.
He also knows the price for any sale would plummet with relegation and a loss of the Premier League riches.
The boardroom source revealed: “Mike knows the squad needs strengthening with the priority a striker. He will hand over the funds.”