Manchester City target youth as part of summer shake-up

Young British talent has recently been most coveted among leading Premier League sides, and Manchester City are set to continue that trend this summer.

As greater emphasis is placed on the need to fill home-grown squad quotas, City are considering moves for a number of promising talents, some of which have yet to make a top-flight appearance.

Crystal Palace midfielder Jonathan Williams is the latest to be linked with the Etihad Stadium club, following a string of impressive Selhurst Park displays.

The pint-sized midfielder is noted for his immense comfort in possession, and wide range of distribution, both of which will be contributory to his expected forthcoming first Welsh international call-up.

Latest in a long line of prodigious talent to rise through the Palace ranks, Williams is unlikely to follow Wilfried Zaha to the Premier League this summer, but David Platt’s recent scouting trip to watch the player shows City’s interest to be serious.

A similar deal to that of Zaha may be brokered, in which Williams would be allowed to remain at Palace for the time being to further aid his development, before making the switch to Eastlands.

Meanwhile, a higher priority short-term investment for Roberto Mancini comes in the form of Derby midfielder Will Hughes.

Also attracting interest from the likes of Manchester United, the 17-year-old has become a regular fixture in the Rams first 11 this term, and is tipped as a future England star.

City failed with a £5m bid for the playmaker in January, but would be willing to double that offer during the next transfer window to land the diminutive star.

And the Citizens could return to a more familiar source for their next summer signing, with Mancini keen on Arsenal right-back Carl Jenkinson.

After a shaky start at the Emirates, Jenkinson has grown into a consistent Premier League full-back, and earned himself full English international honours in the process.

But with Arsene Wenger set to make a move for Feyenoord right-back Daryl Janmaat this close-season, Jenkinson could find himself surplus to Gunners requirements.

And City will be at the front of the queue for the ex-Charlton man if his availability becomes apparent, as the Eastlands outfit look to provide cover for Pablo Zabaleta.

Jenkinson would become the latest in a lengthy line of players to swap Arsenal for City, joining Kolo Toure, Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri in Manchester.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.