Cameron Coxe is set for a dream move to Manchester City after being deemed surplus to requirements by Cardiff City manager Neil Harris.
The right back’s departure from the Bluebirds shocked some supporters with the 21-year-old having been mooted as a star in the making.
Dethroned Premier League champions Manchester City have been admirers of Coxe for some time, having scouted him several times last season, and he’s remained on boss Pep Guardiola's watch-list.
The Merthyr-born talent has been running down the remainder of his contract at Cardiff with Manchester City waiting for him to become a free agent.
Coxe, who was frustrated at the lack of first-team opportunities at the Cardiff City Stadium, has been searching for another club since WalesOnline revealed he would be leaving the Bluebirds with Cheltenham Town touted as another possible destination.
But Manchester City are one of the world’s leading teams and favourites to complete a deal for his signature.
He could be sent out on loan to one of its sister clubs around the world to gain precious experience after being giving few chances by Championship play-off semi-finalists Cardiff.
New York City, Melbourne City and Girona are just some of the clubs in Manchester City Football Group’s portfolio.
Coxe was among a group of young British stars identified as candidates to boost their overall talent pool and eventually challenge for a place in coach Guardiola’s plans.
He made his first-team debut for the Bluebirds in August 2017 in the EFL Cup against Burton Albion but had precious little first-team football under Neil Warnock or his successor Neil Harris.
Coxe had a Carabao Cup outing under Warnock earlier this campaign and two FA Cup displays against Carlisle United under Harris, but has just four senior first team appearances to his name.
The attacking full-back represented Wales from Under-17s to Under-21s and he was also named by manager Ryan Giggs in his senior squad for the 2018 summer friendly with Mexico.
Coxe, who was in manager Rob Page’s impressive Wales Under-20 team that left the high-profile Toulon Tournament with an unbeaten record, was part of a famous win over England at under-19 level.
He had been with the Bluebirds since the age of seven and had been described by the club as “an athletic, powerful and modern full-back who likes to get forward and play on the front foot”.
Harris, speaking after WalesOnline broke the story of Coxe leaving Cardiff City Stadium, said: “It’s always a shame to let players go.
“Someone like Cam, for example, at his age, you have to look at it and make joint decisions with players and agents.
“You look at players at 21, 22 or 23 and they are still playing under-23s football, sometimes you just have to let them go and get on with their careers and say, ‘I hope you do well and have a career in league football’.”
