David Villa could be heading to Manchester City during the Major League Soccer offseason as New York City FC’s Designated Player may risk the wrath of supporters across MLS.
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In the past other big-name DPs such as Thierry Henry, David Beckham and Robbie Keane have made loan switches back to Europe over the offseason and many believed those deals showed a lack of respect to MLS and their current clubs, plus painted the league in a lesser light. Despite the fact that several other lower-profile MLS players also make loan moves and complete training stints abroad in the offseason.
UPDATE - A source close to NYCFC has said there is “no chance” of Villa joining Man City on loan in January.
Frank Lampard’s complicated loan deal to Manchester City from New York City, which in the end turned out to be a permanent transfer which was extended, caused plenty of uproar surrounding players being shared between the City Football Group’s (CFG) two clubs in New York and Manchester but that debate could continue to fester with Villa apparently “keeping his options open” from December onwards.
[ VIDEO: Lampard extends Man City stay ]
According to a report from the Manchester Evening News (MEN), Villa is happy enough to head out on loan in January 2016 during the MLS offseason.
After spending the early months of 2015 on loan at CFG’s team in Australia, Melbourne City, Villa could arrive from January to March 2016 to boost Man City’s attacking options ahead of the home stretch in the PL and Europe. It would be an intriguing option for City as Villa would not be cup tied for Europe and could play in crucial UEFA Champions League games if needed. No other PL team currently has the ability to draft in players from a sister club that is eligible to play in European competitions and it’s safe to say Jose Mourinho and plenty of other Premier League managers were not happy when Lampard arrived at Man City on a “loan deal” last summer. If Villa did make a loan move, those feelings would be reciprocated once again.
If a deal ever came off, the Spanish international would give City’s strikeforce much more depth at a pivotal point of the season and would be an upgrade on Edin Dzeko and Steva Jovetic, while Wilfried Bony is still finding his feet in Sky Blue.
First things first, let’s see if Villa can drag NYCFC off the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings in MLS and then go from there.