Manchester City starlet due back for pre-season on July 1, loan club unlikely to extend his stay

Ukrainian midfielder Oleksandr Zinchenko is due to join up with Manchester City for pre-season training on July 1, the exact day that his loan deal with PSV Eindhoven expires.

In principle, the 20-year-old will not return to PSV next season, despite an agreement made last summer that could have seen the player spend a second season at the Philips Stadion.

Zinchenko was one of many City youngsters loaned to the Netherlands last summer, but his move to then-champions PSV was the most high-profile, with big things expected following his £1.5 million move from FC Ufa.

City beat off competition for famed talent-spotters Borussia Dortmund to Zinchenko’s signature, but his spell at PSV has not gone as hoped. Despite 4 assists in 12 league games for the Dutch side, he only saw 493 minutes of action all season in the Eredivisie.

Some PSV fans criticised coach Phillip Cocu for not giving the promising midfielder more minutes, and he was sent to Jong PSV, the B team who play in the second tier of Dutch football. And Zinchenko shone at that level, registering 11 assists in his last 8 games.

PSV sporting director Marcel Brands recently cast doubt on an extended loan spell for Zinchenko, telling De Telegraaf, “If we can’t offer him more game time than this season, we might be better off giving his place to one of our own youngsters.”

And while Eindhovens Dagblad reports it still has to be formally decided that his stint with PSV is over, there is no indication that he will continue there. The midfielder may get chance to impress Pep Guardiola again in pre-season, though realistically another loan spell is the most likely next step for Zinchenko.