Juanma Lillo issues reality check to Man City academy stars after Cole Palmer transfer exit

Manchester City hold no hard feelings towards Cole Palmer after he asked to leave the Etihad to join Chelsea, but won't change how they deal with future academy talents in light of the surprise deadline day exit.

Palmer's £42.5m transfer sees him become the most expensive City academy graduate, with the academy topping £100m in sales and sell-ons this summer. However, despite the positives of the money incoming for the academy, the path to regular first-team games remains difficult for the best youngsters if someone with the quality of Palmer felt he must leave.

Despite Palmer deciding to join Chelsea, which made it tough for City to stand in his way, assistant manager Juanma Lillo says the club won't change their approach with promoting young players before challenging them to earn their place in Pep Guardiola's squad.

"Each player is different in the process, you can't establish a middle ground," said Lillo. "Some develop quickly, some uncover their talent a little bit later. The club creates a lovely atmosphere coming from the manager at the top. That’s the path that we need to take."

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Asked if it was difficult for City to hold onto their best young players in light of Palmer's exit, Lillo said: "Pep has always shown this in terms of what the player wants. It needs to fit in with what the club wants, the management. If it doesn’t fit with the club it won't happen, we don't get involved.

"What a player wants, it's difficult to say if they want to go. I can only say the club is managing the young players really well.

"I think we are in a period now, not just in football, where we want things quickly. I'm not saying this was