Manchester City knock back Chelsea approach for first-team midfielder after contractual clause refused | OneFootball

Premier League champions Manchester City have knocked back an approach from rivals Chelsea over the future of Nico O’Reilly, according to various reports.

It was first revealed on Sunday afternoon that the west London club had made an enquiry for Manchester City’s 19-year-old talent as part of their ongoing drive to strengthen Enzo Maresca’s midfield options.

However, with Manchester City having largely learned lessons from the big-money sale of Cole Palmer to Chelsea in the summer market of 2023, the Etihad Stadium club are seemingly more insistent on including favourable clauses in sales of primary academy stars to direct rivals.

Nico O’Reilly is certainly one of those names and Pep Guardiola views the player in the highest regard due to his physicality in the centre of the pitch and his ability to be versatile in a number of roles throughout Manchester City’s midfield.

Speaking earlier this month, Guardiola said of O’Reilly, “He can play in the middle, outside, both sides. Nico played for the first time in his life at left back.

“He has the conditions to play holding midfielder but maybe he doesn’t believe he can play this. He’s another talent the club trust a lot.”

And that stance from the manager himself has now been reflected by the position upheld by Manchester City with regards to transfer approaches and interest over the player’s long-term and immediate future.

According to the information of The Secret Scout, Manchester City have knocked back an enquiry made by Premier League rivals Chelsea for star academy graduate midfielder Nico O’Reilly, and it would now take a ‘huge offer’ to even ‘entertain’ such an idea.

From the side of the Stamford Bridge club, it is further revealed that recruitment officials have turned their attention elsewhere as they look to bring in a midfielder before the ongoing winter transfer window closes on Monday night.

Additional details courtesy of reporting from MailSport’s Jack Gaughan has detailed that Chelsea’s approach was knocked back after the club refused to agree with Manchester City on a buyback option being included in the agreement.

O’Reilly himself will almost certainly be pleased by the faith shown in him by Manchester City, having previously stressed his delight at breaking through into the club’s first-team picture and being trusted by the best manager in the game.

Speaking during an interview in September, O’Reilly said, “Pep (Guardiola), the best manager in the world, for him to have trust in you to go out there and play really means a lot.

“I grew up a Manchester City fan, I’ve been there all my life, since a baby! My mum and my sister are big Manchester City fans.”

An immediate opportunity to further showcase his outstanding abilities within the game could come as soon as Saturday afternoon when City travel south to take on Leyton Orient in the fourth round of the FA Cup away from home.