**Benfica boss Bruno Lage has addressed reports that the Liga Portugal giants could dramatically terminate the loan spell of Manchester City’s Issa Kabore next month.**
The 23-year-old has featured in just two league matches for Benfica during the opening four months of the ongoing 2024/25 season, with the right-back facing limited opportunities at the Estádio da Luz.
The Burkinabe international had spent the previous season with Luton Town, featuring 24 times across their Premier League campaign under manager Rob Edwards, and registering two assists during that period.
The defender has never made a first-team appearance for Manchester City, and was not involved in the Blues’ summer pre-season tour of the United States for matches against Celtic, AC Milan, FC Barcelona and Chelsea.
Kabore was named as a substitute for Manchester City’s FA Community Shield win at Wembley Stadium, and for a Premier League win over Ipswich Town at the Etihad Stadium in August, amid transfer interest from both Tottenham and Everton.
Pep Guardiola had suggested that the right-back could remain with the Blues’ first-team squad for the season, however the defender completed a late season-long loan move to Benfica – a deal that does not include an option to make the transfer permanent.
The future of the defender at the Liga Portugal club has been thrown into significant doubt however, with [Sport Witness relaying claims](https://sportwitness.co.uk/so-much-can-happen-manager-cant-rule-out-player-returning-to-manchester-city-prepared-for-anything/) that Benfica have opened talks with Manchester City to discuss the possibility of terminating the loan agreement in January.
Benfica boss Bruno Lage has fuelled speculation that Kabore’s loan spell may be cut shut, [saying](https://sportwitness.co.uk/so-much-can-happen-manager-cant-rule-out-player-returning-to-manchester-city-prepared-for-anything/), “Everyone is focused on Benfica and training well. Now, there are issues that could happen in January, but so much can happen.
“In the central players, there have been problems with very serious injuries, and we have to be prepared for anything, if anything happens.”
Manchester City are themselves expected to consider signing a new right-back across 2025, with plans for a major shake-up of Pep Guardiola’s first-team squad at the end of the current campaign.