MANCHESTER City are sending top prospect Taylor Harwood-Bellis to Blackburn Rovers on loan for their promotion bid.
Harwood-Bellis, 19, has played for Pep Guardiola in Cup ties but will now get the league experience he needs at this stage.
It is a massive coup for Rovers as the City babe was wanted by several clubs and follows in the footsteps of Tosin Adarabioyo who went to the club a year ago.
Boss Tony Mowbray persuaded City that centre-back Harwood-Bellis would get game time after previously signing Jarrad Branthwaite from Everton.
Blackburn already have Harvey Elliott on loan from Liverpool who is starring in the Championship with four goals and eight assists in 21 league games.
Mowbray told the Times of his development: “Someone told me before the Middlesbrough game last week that he has the most goals and assists combined of any teenager in the top ten leagues in Europe.
“It is unbelievable to think how advanced he is for such a tender age.”
Guardiola will take encouragement from Elliot’s terrific form and will hope Harwood-Bellis can replicate similar performances.
Blackburn are currently eighth, three points adrift of the play-offs.
Meanwhile Man City are resigned to losing centre-back Eric Garcia to Barcelona.
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And the move may even happen before Monday’s transfer deadline day according to Barca boss Ronald Koeman.
The Dutchman said: “We already know he [Garcia] will probably arrive in the summer.
“If it’s not possible this January, then we’ll accept it and move on.”
