Football Presse

Freiburg join race for Manchester City striker Sangare

ยทBy Junior Yekini
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SC Freiburg are exploring a possible move for Manchester City forward Mahamadou Sangare, according to Italian journalist Mirko Di Natale, with the Bundesliga club facing competition from Ligue 1 sides OGC Nice and FC Nantes for the teenage striker.

Manchester City are understood to be open to a loan with an option to buy for the 19-year-old, who only completed his move to the Etihad from Paris Saint-Germain's academy last year.

Since arriving in Manchester, Sangare has scored 12 goals in 25 competitive matches for City's under-21 side, continuing the eye-catching form that first brought him to prominence in France.

A France youth international, the forward had earlier finished as joint-top scorer in the UEFA Youth League while coming through the ranks at PSG, netting 42 goals in 46 appearances for the club's under-19s before his switch to England.

City signed the teenager on a five-year professional contract last summer after he impressed during his development at Montrouge and Racing Club de France, and while he is highly regarded within the club's academy setup, he is not currently viewed as ready to challenge for regular first-team minutes at the Etihad.

A loan to the Bundesliga would offer the teenager the chance to test himself against senior opposition and continue his development, with Freiburg's strong track record of nurturing young talent seen as a potential draw for the striker and his representatives.

The German club have built a reputation in recent years for giving promising youngsters a pathway into first-team football, making them an attractive proposition as City weigh up the next step in Sangare's development.

Manchester City's willingness to sanction a temporary exit reflects their broader approach to developing young players outside the pressure of the first team, following a similar path taken by other academy graduates in recent seasons.

Whether SC Freiburg can win the race ahead of their French rivals remains to be seen, though talks are understood to be at an early stage as City continue to assess the best environment for Sangare to progress.