Manchester City’s teenage star-in-the-making Phil Foden has been urged to make a loan move in January by Stuart Pearce, and if he does, Newcastle should be all over it.
Pep Guardiola recently told the Sun Foden is the only City player that cannot be sold “under any circumstances”, adding not even €500 million would tempt them.
But speaking about the 19-year old midfielder, former Man City and Newcastle defender Pearce, told talkSPORT: “In January, he really needs to look at where he is at the moment.
“Game time is absolutely vital for a player of his age.
“He’s coming to that age where he needs to play some games. I think six months out on loan, if he hasn’t broken into the team, would do him the world of good.”
It is a reasonable argument, with the talented youngster not having made a single start from any of City’s opening eight games.
The Longstaffs’ success shows Newcastle would be ideal loan move for Foden
If he does decide to seek a temporary switch, there would undoubtedly be huge interest, with another Premier League side surely the most logical destination for him.
Newcastle must ensure they are aware of the situation, and ready to capitalise on any opportunity to bring Foden to Tyneside for the second half of the season.
It would certainly leave Steve Bruce with a mouth-watering quartet of youngsters in midfield, with Foden, Isaac Hayden and both Matty and Sean Longstaff.
And given the breakthrough success of Sean last season, and Matty this, Guardiola may see Newcastle as a place where he will get the first team opportunities he would need to continue his development.
So if any sort of loan deal could be arranged, it would be a win for all parties, with Newcastle getting an unquestionably talented addition, Manchester City knowing their player is being looked after, and Foden getting the game time needed to fulfil his true potential.
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