Man City not planning Cole Palmer transfer repeat with ‘incredible’ youth talent

Oscar Bobb will not leave Manchester City in any capacity this summer, ManchesterWorld understands.

The Norwegian, who has made 25 senior appearances this season, signed a new long-term contract at the Etihad in February and is seen as an important part of Pep Guardiola’s first-team plans.

The Blues are expected to sign Savio from sister club Troyes this summer, further increasing the competition for places in the wide attacking areas, with Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Bernardo Silva and Jeremy Doku all currently vying for a starting berth.

It’s a difficult position for a youth-team player to establish himself, as Cole Palmer discovered last season. The attacker started just seven games in 2022/23 and didn’t start a single league game until after Guardiola’s side had been crowned champions in May.

The lack of minutes resulted in the 21-year-old joining Chelsea in September for a fee of £42.5m, after Guardiola revealed Palmer would either leave permanently or remain at City, with a loan move not an option.

Bobb also won’t be leaving City in a short-term deal next summer, while the reigning Premier League champions have no plans to cash in on the talented youngster. It’s a policy the club have deployed with the likes of Palmer, Romeo Lavia and James Trafford in recent years, but Bobb will be given time to develop in City’s star-studded squad.

The 20-year-old made his debut in September but has already been handed seven first-team starts, including two in the Premier League. Bobb netted his first senior goal in December’s Champions League win over Red Star Belgrade, and scored a dramatic injury-time winner against Newcastle United a month later.

“He is a guy who receives the ball as a striker in the pockets and his first turn - he is quite similar to Phil [Foden],” Guardiola said about Bobb in January, after a 5-0 FA Cup victory over Huddersfield Town.

“He is an incredible threat - he was lucky for the goal but he has to be there and after he had two or three shots blocked. It’s another 90 minutes and always he has played - in pre-season, in the Red Star game and as a substitute - at a high, high level. It’s another player from the academy coming here and it’s good.”