Man City ‘plot sensational return’ for player Pep Guardiola previously let go as buy-back clause details emerge

Manchester City may consider re-signing one of their former academy players as reports suggest Pep Guardiola’s team is “monitoring” an ex-City player.

Guardiola’s side is experiencing a challenging period, arguably the toughest since his arrival at the Etihad in 2016, having endured five consecutive losses across all competitions.

Most recently, they suffered a heavy 4-0 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. James Maddison’s first-half brace gave Spurs a commanding lead, while Pedro Porro and Brennan Johnson added to the tally, leaving City trailing Premier League leaders Liverpool by eight points. Liverpool maintained their advantage with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Southampton under Arne Slot.

City, currently 10th in the expanded Champions League group stage, face Feyenoord tonight at the Etihad. However, their squad appears thin in the center-forward position, with Erling Haaland the sole senior striker after Julian Alvarez’s summer move to Atletico Madrid.

One potential reinforcement is Liam Delap, a 21-year-old striker who emerged from City’s youth academy. Delap, son of ex-Stoke player Rory Delap, joined Ipswich Town over the summer for a fee of up to £20 million. He has impressed in his first Premier League season, scoring six goals for the promoted side.

Football Insider reports that City are closely tracking Delap’s progress and could activate a buy-back clause included in his transfer deal. The clause allows City to reclaim their former player, while a sell-on clause applies if Ipswich sells him elsewhere. City will reportedly evaluate whether to exercise the buy-back option in the future.