Pep Guardiola has revealed that promising Manchester City youngster Cole Palmer could be sold before the transfer deadline.
The 21-year-old scored in Man City’s Community Shield defeat to Arsenal, before heading in an equaliser in Wednesday’s UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla, forcing a penalty shootout which they would win 5-4.
Palmer will be pushing for more playing time this season, but Guardiola admitted he was unsure if that would be at Man City or elsewhere.
“The opinion I had when he arrived is he wanted to leave, but now I don’t know what’s going to happen,” the treble-winning manager said after the match.
“I don’t think a loan is going to happen. He’s going to stay or going to sell, but I think a loan is not going to happen.”
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“I understand he wants to be more active than the previous season,” Guardiola added.
“But Riyad [Mahrez] has gone so we have one more place there. I cannot say anything because, of course, all the decisions need to be made by the club. The club has to decide what the best is. All together, we will do it.”
Guardiola certainly had high praise for Palmer after the win, continuing: “He has a character. It’s not easy to play against defenders like [Marcos] Acuna, for example, who is a top defender.
“It’s not easy, it’s a final. He’s a young player playing in these stages. It’s not easy for these guys. He played really, really good and made a fantastic goal, too.”
Palmer, who has been linked with Brighton and West Ham this summer, said post-match: “It’s been a couple of good games for me but I don’t know. I will have to see what the future holds. This summer [in pre-season] I was playing a lot and when we came back I was given the opportunity twice. I have always been confident but it’s more rhythm, match sharpness and stuff like that. It really helps when you are playing consistently.
“So whatever the best decision is when we speak together, that is what I will do. Obviously the best scenario is to stay at City and play but obviously you know what the competition is like, if they bring someone in – I don’t know.”
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