Pep Guardiola confirms Liam Delap loan plans; Luke Mbete, Rico Lewis and Josh Wilson-Esbrand set to stay

Pep Guardiola has revealed what lies in store for a talented group of Manchester City’s youngsters in the 2022/23 season.

It is fascinating to witness how several of Manchester City’s best youngsters have all taken a step to progress their careers this season.

For instance, Cole Palmer is set to become a regular in the first-team as one of the side’s primary wingers.

While James McAtee, who seems destined to be handed a bigger role in City’s senior team in the near future, has been sent out on loan to Sheffield United.

Tommy Doyle has joined his fellow academy graduate at Bramall Lane, after coming off the back of a stellar stint at Cardiff City during the second half of the previous campaign.

Much like Doyle, Taylor Harwood-Bellis also rescued his stagnating career by proving his mettle at Stoke City on loan.

Yan Couto, who shone during his spell at Braga last term has joined the Sky Blues’ sister club Girona on a season-long loan.

Gavin Bazunu and Romeo Lavia have decided to bank on their talent by joining Southampton on a permanent basis this summer.

However, Manchester City inserted buy-back clauses in both players’ contracts, as they are viewed as potential starters at the club in the future.

The same goes for Darko Gyabi, who was signed by Leeds United for a £5 million fee.

CJ Egan-Riley has also bid farewell to the Premier League champions by signing on the dotted line for Burnley.

While there remains a clarity on a majority of City starlets’ plans for the ongoing season, Pep Guardiola provided further updates on the futures of a number of other youngsters in sky blue.

“We loaned ‘Macca’ [James McAtee], Liam [Delap] is in that process because we have Erling and Julian and he needs minutes. 

The EDS (Elite Development Squad) phase is done. He has to try and go there and play and the other ones. Luke Mbete, Rico [Lewis] and Josh [Wilson-Esbrand] will be with us”, he revealed, as quoted by Richard Jolly of the Independent.

With Stoke City and West Brom extensively reported to interested in Delap, it seems as if Guardiola has all but confirmed am imminent switch.

It comes as no surprise that Wilson-Esbrand will remain with the first-team, as it seemed at one point that he would be promoted to the role of back-up left-back this season.

Similarly, Lewis made his Premier League debut off the bench in City’s latest 4-0 win against Bournemouth, which is testament to how highly the 17-year old is rated by the Spanish manager.

With Aymeric Laporte currently out injured, it is clear to see that Luke Mbete is currently filling in as the side’s emergency option amongst their centre-back roster.

All in all, it seems as if Pep Guardiola and Manchester City have a strategy in place to ensure that the club’s incredible pool of young talent develops in the best possible way.