Manchester City are in a tough position. They’re behind in the league, out of Europe, out of the FA Cup and face a trophyless season. They need to strengthen in the summer, but Financial Fair Play regulations will stop them from breaking the bank, and even if they did, they’d still have a headache about the number of home grown players they need to have in their squad for the Champions League.

City’s academy has always produced good players who have made it into the first team. Players like Shaun Wright-Phillips, Joey Barton and Micah Richards came through the youth academy to take their place in the City first team. And this is what City will need to do over the coming years to make sure the club is sustainable, and will have no problems with the authorities when it comes to FFP or their Champions League squads.

But City need a step up in quality these days, and the academy hasn’t been keeping up. That’s why they’ve pumped so much money into the new academy at the Etihad Campus, and aim to build an academy to rival Barcelona’s La Masia.

Manuel Pellegrini may not feel like he has enough fire power from the academy to bring into his squad just at the moment, but when it comes to strengthening for next season, he may have some players in the summer who might have the chance to impress and stake a claim for inclusion into the squad for next season.

The most obvious is the City central defender currently shining on-loan at Celtic, Jason Denayer. The 19-year-old Belgian has been playing well for Celtic in the first team, and although the standard of football there may not be up to the standard required in the Premier League and in Europe, the youngster has still been a rock at the back, and has gained European experience too, playing for Celtic in the Europa League, including a heroic performance in the San Siro against Inter. Celtic were down to 10-men and defended valiantly, though ultimately it wasn’t enough to go through.

Even more promising for City is Denayer’s recent call-up to the full Belgium squad for the European Championship qualifiers. The Belgian team is sitting top of the group, which includes Wales, and is full of some wonderful players. But the City loanee made his debut from the bench, slotting into the centre of defence against Israel in a 1-0 win.

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It would’ve been nice to have seen him play alongside Kompany, but Vince’s poor form continues – Denayer was brought on to replace Christian Benteke after Kompany was sent off.

Either way, with Martin Demichelis getting older, and Matija Nastasic having sealed his move to Schalke, City may be in need of defensive cover, and Denayer might be the perfect answer.

Denayer could be joined by Karim Rekik, who is also playing an important role for his new club PSV. He has made 29 starts this season, playing football at a decent level in his native Holland. He looks less likely than Denayer to come into the City squad for next season, but he’s certainly one to watch. Especially as the centre of defence has looked a vulnerable position for City this season.

In attacking midfield, though, City have more options. And another loanee, Marcos Lopes – on loan at Lille in France – is shining for his new club.

The Portuguese youngster has been tipped to be a star for a long time, and in his first taste of first-team football, he has been a star for his loan club.

Lille finished third in the French League last season, making it into the Champions League qualifying round, but fell into the Europa League (where they failed to make it out of Everton’s group) after losing to Porto on aggregate.

Lopes, however, has chipped in with three goals and three assists in his 14 starts in all competitions for his struggling side.

Lopes has been a shining light in an otherwise forgettable season for Lille, and although he may not yet be ripe for the City first team, his performances will give Pellegrini food for thought, and the manager will be delighted with his progress.

City’s problems both on and off the field this season look worrying, and City are only just holding off Arsenal and United below them. Not making the Champions League this season would be disastrous from both footballing and financial standpoints. They probably will make it even if they don’t challenge Chelsea at the top, but it’s not been a great season for the Citizens, and perhaps it’s time to freshen up the squad a little.

The loanees could be given a chance to prove their worth to Pellegrini in the summer friendlies. Under UEFA regulations, a player is considered home-grown if he has been trained at a club in that country for three years between the ages of 15 and 21.These three players would all qualify as home-grown under these regulations, or at least they will by the age of 21.

And if they take their chance in the summer, Pellegrini might have less of a headache when it comes to naming squads for the Champions League.

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