Manchester City desperate to stop Brahim Diaz following Jadon Sancho through exit door

James Robson @jamesrobsonES14 September 2018

Manchester City are determined to stop Brahim Diaz following in the footsteps of Jadon Sancho.

One of the jewels of the Premier League champions’ academy has entered the final year of his contract at the Etihad - alerting a host of clubs across Europe to his potential availability, including Real Madrid.

Diaz has long been regarded as one of the most promising young players in the world and was shortlisted for the European Golden Boy Award alongside a stellar cast, including France’s World Cup star Kylian Mbappe.

He was considered among a clutch of emerging players at City - along with Phil Foden and Sancho - as being capable of making the breakthrough from the club’s state of the art academy to Pep Guardiola’s first team.

City reluctantly had to accept Sancho’s departure to Borussia Dortmund last summer, despite repeated attempts to tie him down to a long-term deal - and are aware of the potential of a repeat scenario.

The 19-year-old’s own determination to stay and fight for his place this season, rather than go out on loan, is a positive sign.

As are private conversations with his manager, which he has also stated his desire to commit to the club.

But Diaz’ first-team opportunities will be severely limited again, given the strength in depth of City’s attack.

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Guardiola could afford to make a statement last weekend by dropping Leroy Sane from his squad to face Newcastle - and with Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gudogan and Foden all struggling to hold down regular starting berths, Diaz is set for another season on the fringes.

That is Guardiola’s greatest concern when it comes to realising the lofty ambitions set by City’s hierarchy to provide a clear pathway from their much-celebrated academy.

The Catalan has bemoaned the lack of a competitive reserve league in England’s top flight to give his emerging talent a taste of senior football.

Link-ups with clubs like Girona in Spain have been intended to help provide development for City’s starlets - but Diaz made it clear he wanted to remain at the club to learn alongside the stars in Guardiola’s squad.

City have been effective in tying down a host of the players who were key to last season triumph, with Kevin de Bruyne, David Silva, Gabriel Jesus and Ederson among a host of long-term contract renewals.

Raheem Sterling is still to sign a new deal - and securing his future is seen as a priority for director of football Txiki Begiristain. But so is ensuring the club keep hold of the starlets they’ve invested so much money into nurturing.

Chairman Khaldoon al Mubarak has been clear in his intention to see at least one youth player making their first team breakthrough each season - and Diaz was identified as having the potential to achieve that even before Guardiola’s arrival.

Crucially, that potential has been recognised among City’s rivals - just like Sancho’s.

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