Nico O’Reilly is to stay at Manchester City despite strong interest from Chelsea in a deadline day transfer.
City rate the 19-year-old midfielder extremely highly and would have demanded a buy-back clause if they were to sell.
Such a condition would not have been accepted by Chelsea and therefore after an enquiry and talks, the situation is not going to develop in this window.
It means City will retain one of their best young players and avoid a repeat of the Cole Palmer situation, which saw the England international leave for Stamford Bridge in 2023.
O’Reilly is a product of City’s academy and made his senior league debut earlier this season in the 6-0 win over Ipswich Town last month.
He has made six senior appearances in total this season including starting the Community Shield win over Manchester United back in August.
Pep Guardiola has talked up O’Reilly’s talent and his ability to play in a multitude of roles.
“I am pretty sure he can help us,” Guardiola said during City’s pre-season tour of the United States.
“He can play with us, even as a holding midfielder when Rodri is not there. We have Kalvin Phillips. I don’t know what is going to happen, but we have Kova (Mateo Kovacic), and we have Nico. I know he can play it.”
GO DEEPER
‘He will be a player’: Nico O’Reilly is latest Man City academy star to impress Pep Guardiola
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