Report shares Man City plan for talent Guardiola backs to be ‘exceptional’

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Pep Guardiola will promote Cole Palmer to the Man City first-team permanently next season, according to the Manchester Evening News.

Guardiola will increase the teenager’s senior role at the Etihad Stadium after he signed a new, long-term contract. Palmer has penned a two-year extension to keep the attacking midfielder at the club until at least 2026.

His extension comes less than 12-months after signing a deal that ran until 2024. But Man City have worked on fresh terms after Palmer enjoyed a strong season working with Guardiola and in Under 23s.

Palmer helped Man City to win the Premier League 2 title for the first time in the club’s history last season. He also made his first-team debut against Burnley in the Carabao Cup beside Kevin de Bruyne at Turf Moor.

The Wythenshawe-born maestro has attracted vast interest – including from the Championship – in a loan transfer with his efforts in 2020/21. But Man City are unwilling to allow him to leave and will instead promote him permanently to Guardiola’s squad.

Guardiola is set to shake up his first-team over the summer, which could see further academy talents join Palmer. The 19-year-old made his Champions League debut against Marseille in October, and offered 13 goals plus six assists for the U23s last term.

TBR’s view: Palmer deserves first-team shot at Man City

Palmer certainly deserves to be promoted to Guardiola’s first-team squad permanently next season. The Man City prospect proved his potential as a goalscoring and creative midfielder in the U23s last season, and now needs to step up to a senior fold.

If the Citizens are not planning on sending Palmer out on loan, then he needs that chance at the Etihad. He will also get the opportunity to play under Guardiola, who believes in his ability beyond his appearances to date.

Guardiola told the Man City website in September that Palmer has ‘incredible finishing’ and likened it to England’s Phil Foden. The Spaniard also claimed the teenage talent ‘will be an exceptional player’ – one he can now mould to that standard.