Como loanee Maximo Perrone has expressed his desire to join the Serie A club on a permanent transfer from Manchester City.
Perrone joined Man City from Velez Sarsfield in his native Argentina for around £8m in January 2023, but he has made only two senior appearance for Pep Guardiola's side.
The 22-year-old made his Premier League debut as a second-half substitute in a 4-1 win at Bournemouth on February 25, 2023, three days before coming off the bench again in a 3-0 FA Cup victory at Bristol City.
Perrone remained on the fringes of Man City's senior squad during their historic treble-winning campaign before spending last season on loan in Spain with Las Palmas, where he made 29 La Liga appearances.
The midfielder is now enjoying a loan spell at Italian outfit Como, and although he struggled with an injury earlier in the campaign, he has played 14 times for Cesc Fabregas's side and is keen to remain at the club beyond this season.
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Perrone keen to join Como permanently from Man City
Speaking to Calcioline about his future, Perrone said: "There are agents, representatives, I don't know anything. As far as I'm concerned, I want to stay here, grow and learn more with Como.
"I want to give a hand to my teammates and I'm happy to stay with Cesc. I have an excellent relationship with him. I hope my future is here with Como."
Perrone, who was part of Man City's squad during their pre-season tour of USA last summer, predominantly operates as a deep-lying midfielder, a position the Citizens have been crying out for since Rodri sustained his season-ending knee injury last September.
Nico Gonzalez has since joined the club for around £50m and it now seems as if Perrone's future lies away from Man City, even though Guardiola praised the youngster when he arrived two years ago.
"He's a guy who's quicker here [in his head] than the legs. He moves really well in the pockets, he has a lot of vision there," said Guardiola.
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"Since the first or second training session after he arrived I had some clips and information, but honestly, I didn't know him and the players didn't know him. We thought 'wow he moves well', his individual quality is really there.
"I think he'll grow being with us from the rhythm, from the physicality. Sometimes we're looking for players to play in the position in the smaller spaces. It's good, really, really good."
Which other fringe players could leave Man City this summer?
Perrone is not the only Man City player currently out on loan who is facing an uncertain future at the club, as Kyle Walker, Kalvin Phillips, Issa Kabore and Josh Wilson-Esbrand could also leave the Etihad Stadium in the summer.
AC Milan are understood to have an option to buy Walker in the summer, while Phillips is now deemed surplus to requirements at Man City and his future at Ipswich Town may depend on whether they avoid relegation from the Premier League.
Meanwhile, full-backs Kabore and Wilson-Esbrand - on loan at Werder Bremen and Stoke City respectively - have failed to break into Guardiola's first-team plans and may consider permanent moves in the summer.
Oliver Thomas
