Man City send scouts to watch 21-year-old midfielder compared to Bellingham

Manchester City have sent scouts to watch an international midfielder who has been compared to Jude Bellingham, according to a new report.

City’s season takes another turn for the worse

Just when it looked like things were getting back on track for Manchester City, their season took another turn for the worse at the weekend as they were beaten 1-0 by Nottingham Forest in the Premier League. Pep Guardiola’s side bossed possession on the day, but couldn’t make their dominance pay, with a goal from winger Callum Hudson-Odoi enough to seal all three points for Forest.

The defeat resulted in City slipping back outside the top four as they were leapfrogged by Chelsea following their win over Leicester City the next day.

In light of the defeat, Guardiola gave a frank assessment of his team’s chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

“We have to win games and if we don’t win enough games in a row to be secure, it will be a battle. We have 10 games left and we have to win a lot of games to qualify. It’s as simple as that,” said the Spanish boss, who guided City to Champions League glory in 2023.

“To find a way, you have to play better. You have to find something. It will not come from the sky. You have to do it. In situations you have to find something,” he added. “The situation is what it is, we have 10 games left starting next Saturday against Brighton, international break after and then we will see what happens.”

City scouting Crystal Palacew star Adam Wharton

Regardless of whether City finish in the top four, Guardiola will no doubt be looking to reinforce his side in the summer after what’s been an incredibly difficult season. According to TBR Football, one player that the Cityzens are keen on is Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, whom they sent scouts to watch in action over the weekend as the Eagles beat Ipswich Town 1-0.

TBR Football report that City making a move for Wharton in the summer cannot be ruled out, with Guardiola understood to be a big admirer of the 21-year-old. Palace, however, are planning to put up a strong fight to keep Wharton, and are even prepared to offer him a substantial new contract to keep him at Selhurst Park.

Wharton only joined Palace in February 2024 from Championship side Blackburn Rovers, but has already made a big impression. Now also being linked with a sensational move to Real Madrid, the midfielder has been likened to Jude Bellingham, who moved from Birmingham City to Borussia Dortmund and then to Madrid in just a few years.

“To be brutally honest, you wouldn’t expect to see that trajectory from Blackburn Rovers to Real Madrid in such a short space of time,” David Prutton told Football League World.

“But the way he moves and gets about the pitch and the understated manner in which he approaches his profession, his ability to handle the pressure – whether it’s England squads or Premier League football – means you have a lot of the make-up that would help him to perform at a top club.

“There’s the template of Jude Bellingham who managed to bounce up into the first-team and then move abroad and seal a huge move to Real Madrid.”