Coventry City lead race to land Man City teenager Mfuni on loan before deadline

Manchester City defender Stephen Mfuni is poised to join a Championship club on loan before Tuesday’s transfer deadline, with Coventry City currently leading the race for the 18-year-old.

Coventry have been long-term admirers of Mfuni, who can play at left back and centre half. Their interest appeared to cool after Frank Lampard’s side signed Ethan Pinnock from Brentford, but the Sky Blues remain in contention for the England youth international. Lampard, asked about the reported interest ahead of Coventry’s weekend fixture against Hull, declined to elaborate: “I won’t comment on it until players are ours and it’d be wrong to comment.”

Mfuni is not short of suitors. Watford, where he impressed during a loan spell in the second half of last season before injury cut his campaign short, would welcome him back. Sheffield United and Swansea City are also monitoring the situation.

Despite his youth, Mfuni has already made his senior debut for City and featured in the club’s pre-season tour of Asia, playing 45 minutes apiece against Inter Milan and the K-League All-Stars. He is highly regarded at the Etihad as a future first-team prospect, but a pathway to regular minutes this season looks narrow. Vitor Reis is expected to remain as a fifth centre-back option, while Nico O’Reilly, Josko Gvardiol and Rayan Ait-Nouri all compete for the left back berth.

A loan move would give Mfuni — who joined City’s academy from Wigan at a young age and has been capped at Under-19 level by England — the consistent senior exposure the club believes he needs to continue his development.