News

The new 'homegrown' rule, set to come into force for the start of the 2010/11 Premier League season, has prompted Manchester City to attempt to retain the services of unsettled duo Stephen Ireland and Shaun Wright-Phillips, reports have claimed.

The pair are believed to be considering moving on because of a lack of first team football at Man City and Irish exile Stephen Ireland is said to have asked to leave the club.

However, the FA is set to introduce a new rule for the start of the new campaign which stipulates that clubs must include eight ‘home-grown’ players out of a squad of 25.

The move means that City will have to boost its ‘home-grown’ contingent if it is to splash the cash during the summer transfer window and bring in big-name international stars.‪

Stephen Ireland will qualify because according to the new regulation, a home-grown player is defined as one who has been registered with any club affiliated to the Football Association for a period of three entire seasons or 36 months prior to his 21st birthday.