Pep Guardiola claims Manchester City would quickly fall into line if told to slash the number of players they loan out.
The Premier League champions currently have 28 players out on temporary deals elsewhere.
According to reports, world governing body FIFA are poised to cap the number of outgoing loans allowed per club to a maximum of between six and eight at any one time for the start of the 2020/21 season.
It is thought this would limit clubs’ abilities to stockpile players that could later be sold for profit but still allow the loan system to be used for player development.
City would probably have to cut drastically the number of players on their books should this be introduced but Guardiola claims that would not be an issue.
Brahim Diaz is thought to be keen on a move away from the Etihad.
The City boss said: “We are going to adapt to the rules. The new rules are coming. We’re going to see the situation about loan players and see what we can do.
“If we cannot loan them they are going to come back here. If we don’t believe they are going to play, if we cannot loan them, we are going to sell them. It’s simple.
“We’re going to see before they take the players where they are going to play and if it is not possible to loan them we are not going to buy them.”
Guardiola feels the loan system is important because he does not think the Under-23 competition in England is of a sufficient standard to prepare players for the Premier League.
“It’s not good for me,” said the Spaniard, speaking at a press conference to preview his side’s clash with Bournemouth on Saturday.
“Loan players are in good leagues. To then come here to play in front of 10 people is not good for their development.”
City have been forced to loan out £10million signing Douglas Luiz, the Brazilian midfielder, for the past two seasons due to work permit issues.
In this case, City are pleased to have had the option of loaning the 20-year-old out.
FOUR fierce goals from our boys the last time The Cherries 🍒 came to town! #mancity pic.twitter.com/8A8awRtn19
— Manchester City (@ManCity) 30 November 2018
Guardiola said: “There’s no way Luiz comes back here to the second team. He would have been with us to make an alternative for Fernandinho but we couldn’t get a work permit.
“Now he’s playing for Girona and playing in the Camp Nou, in the Bernabeu. It would make no sense to come here to the second team. It would not help the young players in that way.”
Guardiola, meanwhile, insists City have done everything to persuade academy graduate Brahim Diaz to stay at the club.
Diaz, the highly-rated 19-year-old attacking midfielder, is out of contract at the end of the season and was this week reported to be ready to sign for Real Madrid.
The Spaniard would be free to speak to other clubs from next month. Diaz has been used sparingly by Guardiola and not featured since scoring twice against Fulham in the Carabao Cup on November 1.
Jadon Sancho has shone in the Bundesliga this season.
Guardiola added: “The case of Brahim is very simple. We want him to stay, we want to extend his contract for four or five years and we’ll do absolutely everything to keep him here.
“But, as I said before, it’s in his hands. My advice is – if he doesn’t want to stay, he has to leave.”
City have been hoping to tie up young talents such as Diaz and Phil Foden to new deals.
However, Jadon Sancho last year opted to leave for Borussia Dortmund and has since been rewarded with first-team opportunities in the Bundesliga and full international recognition with England.
