Having struggled in his previous loan spells, Manchester City striker Lukas Nmecha has been able to enjoy time on the pitch with Anderlecht this season.
The 22-year-old has 17 goals and three assists in all competitions and his fine form has convinced the Belgian side to retain him.
Nmecha’s contract at the Etihad is until 2022 and earlier reports suggested the Citizens would allow him to go out on loan again after offering him an extension.
Pep Guardiola’s side, however, have no plans to offer him a new deal and are looking to sell the German U21 international in the summer, according to Het Nieuwsblad.
This is not good news for the Jupiler Pro League side, however, who had a desire to take the player on another loan deal after Anderlecht sporting director Peter Verbeke admitted his side will do everything within their limits to buy Nmecha.
“Within our budgetary limits, we do everything we can to buy Nmecha permanently. We are working hard on it. Lukas likes to be here, looks for stability and can play European football. He is surrounded with love and can develop himself,” Verbeke was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
“In the ideal scenario, for example, we will continue to work next season, so that he also scores more that way. The player has quite a say and with a year left on his contract, there may be a good price to be arranged with City.”
“Only that file is not in our hands. If there is a club with 15 million euros, we have to pass.”
There were suggestions Vincent Kompany’s past association with City will help the Belgian side get a discount, but that’s been ‘denied’.
Het Nieuwsblad state Nmecha is valued at €8m and whether this is the figure Anderlecht are willing to pay isn’t made clear in the report.
