Former Manchester City forward at the centre of Premier League transfer battle with Burnley eyeing deal

Once a star of Manchester City’s illustrious Academy system, Carlos Forbs is now at the centre of a Premier League transfer battle, according to reports.

Forbs only joined Ajax in the most recent summer transfer window, with Manchester City agreeing a deal for the Portuguese forward worth up to €20 million whilst also retaining a 20% sell-on clause and a buy-back option.

Across the course of the 2022/23 season, the 19-year-old finished top scorer in the Premier League 2 division registering a staggering 21 goals across 24 matches for Manchester City’s Elite Development Squad, sparking a flurry of interest from across Europe.

Despite leaving the Etihad Stadium having never made his senior debut for Pep Guardiola’s first-team squad, Forbs could now be on his way back to England amid widespread interest from within the Premier League.

That is according to the information of The Telegraph’s Mike McGrath, who reports that Burnley and Ajax have been in dialogue over former Manchester City academy winger Carlos Forbs and an initial loan deal this month.

Vincent Kompany’s side are reportedly not alone in their transfer interest for the Portuguese forward however, with McGrath stating that other clubs from within the Premier League are also interested in bringing Forbs back to the English top-flight.

Forbs is one of a number of Manchester City academy graduates to have progressed into the senior game, with the 2023 summer transfer window in particular seeing several City Football Academy leave the club.

Cole Palmer was arguably the most high-profile name to graduate from Manchester City’s conveyor belt of top-level talent, joining Chelsea in a deal understood to exceed the £40 million mark and working wonders for the Stamford Bridge club since.

However those exits from City are often replaced swiftly, such is the vast array of scouts keeping an eye on emerging talents across the globe, with River Plate’s Claudio Echeverri expected to fit that bill in the coming days.