Could Phil Foden Help Leeds United Promotion Push: 3 Potential Destinations For Young Manchester City Star

A slight blip against bogey team Wolves notwithstanding, Pep Guardiola’s Premier League champions have continued where they left off from their record-breaking season last year.

Points have been reaped against Huddersfield, Newcastle, and Fulham to leave the fans purring again, with players such as Bernardo Silva and Benjamin Mendy stepping up superbly to the plate.

However, following this weekend’s victory over the Cottagers, Guardiola has acknowledged that one particular member of his scintillating squad might be feeling a little bit left out in the cold.

Phil Foden, already a holder of a EPL winners medal at the tender age of 17, has struggled to assert himself into the first team squad since playing the majority of Manchester City’s Community Shield win over Chelsea, featuring for just eight minutes on the opening 6-1 victory over Huddersfield.

In his post-match press conference after this weekend’s victory, the City manager was quick to assert that he feels ‘guilty’ about the young Englishman’s recent omissions, as reported by the Manchester Evening News.

"I feel guilty,"

Guardiola said after the match

"He deserves to play. The problem was the injury to Sergio Aguero, we didn't want to take a risk.

"Phil Foden will play a lot of games this season - I feel it. The guys after the game were so tired, we have games, games, games, he's going to play. I like him a lot. Every time he plays, he plays so good. He will play minutes.”

Time will reveal whether these words will in fact resonate and he goes some way to emulating the ten appearances he managed in 2017/18, but should Foden find himself warming the bench throughout a cold winter it might be viable for the midfielder to push for a loan move away in the January transfer window.

The Sportsman takes a look at some potential destinations for the talented Foden.

Leeds United

A move that has heavily speculated by City Watch, this would be ideal for Foden, working under yet another talented and charismatic manager in Marcelo Bielsa at high-flying Leeds, who currently sit undefeated atop the Championship table. His stock would rise considerably if he was part of the team that helped the Whites back up to the Premier League for the first time in 15 years.

West Ham United

Manuel Pellegrini’s Hammers managed their first win of the season this weekend over Everton, but as is widely acknowledged the cracks in this West Ham squad still remain. With summer signing Jack Wilshere once again injured, Foden could nestle into the squad, working alongside fellow young talent Declan Rice and deputising for the ageing skipper Mark Noble. The Chilean manager should be looking to use his links with his old club.

New York City FC

Part of the Abu Dhabi United Group currently conglomerating around the world, New York City FC - or The Pigeons’ as they are known - would represent a sensible internal option, providing Foden with a heap of game-time and keeping him sheltered under the City Group umbrella.

Lest we forget, this is a player who is just 18 years old and has already displayed absolutely remarkable talent and garnered devoted fan appreciation. Six months away at a not altogether remote location, a regular face on a pitch at a highly-valued franchise isn’t the worst option for the player who is current club at all.