City keen to keep Academy starlet on board this season

MANCHESTER City intend to keep Nico O'Reilly this summer with Pep Guardiola delighted with the academy graduate's development over the past 12 months.

- By TYRONE MARSHALL

O'Reilly was one of the few positives for City last season, filling in out-of-position at left-back and his impressive performances earned praise from Guardiola and his teammates. But the Blues have spent £31million on left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolves this summer, while the competition is fierce for O'Reilly in his preferred position as holding midfielder.

That has reportedly put clubs in the Premier League and Bundesliga on alert, with plenty of interest in the 20-year-old this summer. Guardiola has already made it clear he wants his large squad to be cut before the start of the season.