Having established themselves in France with their purchase of Troyes, the City Football Group now have a base for footballers to grow on the other side of the Channel.
It also gives them a great starting spot to scout talent for the likes of Manchester City, who are at the top of their pyramid, with Le Havre’s 17-year-old Ilyes Benlebsir the current focus of their attention.
This comes from L’Equipe, who are reporting that the City Football Group have ‘made an offer to buy the last year’ of the young midfielder’s contract.
He is just one of ‘many young talents’ Manchester City’s owners are keeping an eye on, and the plan would be for U17 international Benlebsir to go straight to the north of England.
It’s pointed out that the offer on the table is to ‘integrate the U23s’ at the Etihad, and they have put it forward to Le Havre, although the numbers involved have yet to come through.
The newspaper also explain this isn’t the first time that Manchester City have tried to bring in players from Le Havre, who are known for their youth development, having helped players such as Paul Pogba and Steve Mandanda break through in the past.
