Manchester City are considering the prospect of in-demand Yangel Herrera becoming part of Pep Guardiola's squad next season should a space become available, according to Simon Bajkowski of the Manchester Evening News.
City have reportedly concluded that the central midfielder would have no issue adjusting to the demands of the Premier League, which could prove to be a major plus for City either on the pitch or in the financial books with reported interest from West Ham and Southampton. There is also said to be interest from La Liga clubs as the Venezuela international continues to impress on loan in Granada.
The 23-year-old was signed by City from Atletico Venezuela in 2017 before being immediately loaned out to New York City FC for two years and then La Liga side Huesca for the last six months of the 18/19 season. That summer, he signed on loan for Granada for the 19/20 season and this was later extended in the summer just gone for the current campaign. There was speculation that the player would be involved in a separate transaction to Valencia as part of the agreement that saw Ferran Torres arrive at the Etihad Stadium, but this did not materialize as the Spanish club had financial and/or logistical issues - concerning their foreign players quota - that scuppered any potential deal.
Herrera, who has a City contract running until 2024, may well prove to be a valuable asset within the City Football Group ecosystem that generates a substantial profit with the reported interest from Premier League and La Liga sides. Equally, he may prove to be a valuable asset for Guardiola, who could need a solution in the holding midfield position should Fernandinho join Sergio Aguero in leaving the club this summer.
Both of these potential outcomes may well be important in City's pursuit of a striker within the pandemic circumstances as cash generation from sales could assist with the necessary liquidity needed for incomings and the in-house solution saves City from spending in the midfield position, which in turn could mean there is more money to put elsewhere.
Yangel Herrera's Granada face Manchester United in Europa League quarter-final action tonight.