Manchester City spark Premier League triple-threat battle for Polish wonderkid

Manchester City are monitoring 17-year-old Polish midfield prodigy Oskar Pietuszewski from Jagiellonia alongside Premier League leaders Arsenal and Chelsea, as per reports.

As the January 2026 transfer window nears, Pep Guardiola and co could look to introduce reinforcements to the squad amid a lack of depth which flirts with a crisis that was most recently exploited last season.

Ever since Ballon d’Or winner Rodri was sidelined with an ACL injury in September 2024 – a setback that kept the 29-year-old on the sidelines for eight months, City’s midfield flaws were wholly exposed and the Blues went on a run of just one win in 13 games.

The Catalan recorded his worst-ever season in England as a result of an abundance of injuries last term – and Guardiola will not want a repetition of that calamity – meaning alternative options in the middle could come into Hugo Viana’s thinking come January.

Though Viana – who replaced Txiki Begiristain as City’s sporting director in the summer – oversaw a huge overhaul upon his appointment which saw the club spend over £150 million – on top of £180 million last January – it is thought that City won’t be near as active in the coming window.

However, interest remains in Oskar Pietuszewski, who has also sought the attentiveness of Premier League rivals Arsenal and Chelsea, according to TEAMtalk. The 17-year-old is seen as an optimal fit in Guardiola’s system, given he can play as a deep and holding midfielder.

There is a derath of elegant, right-footed central players like Pietuszewski in the modern market and City won’t want the opportunity to sign the star squandered as efforts to monitor the player closely have transpired.

Sources close to Jagiellonia have confirmed that all English heavyweights have sent scouts to see the midfielder. Arsenal were present for last month’s 4-0 win over Arka Gdynia, Chelsea had representatives at their clash with Strasbourg and City sent personnel to the Bialystok City Stadium only 10 days ago.

Being priced at a minimum of £13 million, City will need to weigh up their options in January before committing to a full-blown offer, though his valuation could increase further as he progresses rapidly in the early years of his professional career – bonuses and rising figures could shatter the club’s outgoing departure record.

Furthermore, Pietuszewski has a contract valid until the summer of 2027 that contains no release clause – which provides Jagiellonia significant leverage in the situation and means they can control all aspects of a potential move.

In parts deemed the future of Poland, the youngster is known for his comfort with both feet while passing, dribbling and defending. He is also known well for his off-the-ball movement that has helped Jagiellonia climb into second in the Polish Ekstraklasa league.

Pietuszewski exploded onto the scene in his native country and has made 24 senior appearances, scoring three goals and registering two assists from deeper roles, likely attracting Guardiola as a versatile holding midfielder who has the ability to play anywhere.