Cavan Sullivan may be joining Manchester City in 2027 – but he could end up at one of their rivals.That’s the view of ex-Premier League goalkeeper Brad Friedel, who has commented on the 17-year-old’s future in wake of the Citizens‘ guilty verdict.Philadelhia Union starlet Sullivan is the youngest player to feature in MLS – doing so at just 14 in 2024GettyThe Etihad outfit were last week found guilty on each of their Premier League breach charges.It remains to be seen what punishment will be dished out to them, which could range from points deduction to relegation and having their titles stripped.This could potentially be bad news for USA starlet Sullivan, who is due to link up at City next year after he turns 18 in September 2027.Should City be unable to register new players, this would leave the American’s future up in the air.Who is Cavan Sullivan?One of the world’s most talented prospects, the versatile winger made his Philadelphia Union debut in the MLS aged just 14 in 2024.City subsequently agreed a pre-agreement deal for the player, with the mercurial talent continuing to go from strength to strength.Featuring in 30 games across all competitions in the 2026 season for Philadelphia so far, Sullivan has chipped in with ten goals and nine assists.His dazzling displays earned him a first call-up to USA’s national team by boss Mauricio Pochettino in September, where he has since been capped on three occasions.And on his third cap, he created history to become the Stars and Stripes’ youngest ever goalscorer.City fans have been keeping a close eye on Sullivan’s development, but Friedel, who featured 82 times for the USMNT between 1992-2004, has been left unsure whether he will indeed pull on the famous sky blue jersey.Sullivan scored in USA’s 3-0 win over Mexico to become the youngest scorer for the national teamGettyThe teenager is due to link up at City next year once he turns 18GettySpeaking to talkSPORT.com about the teenager, Friedel claimed the youngster has all the talent to become a global star, before his attention turned to City.Could Cavan Sullivan join another team?The ex-Aston Villa, Liverpool and Tottenham man said: “One of the things that you don’t know with American players is what their mentality is going to be like when they do go to Europe.“Sullivan seems like one that has all the right attributes, fortunately for him, he signed a contract to get out of the US when he’s 18 and go over to Europe.“The problem with that now is it’s with Manchester City, so we don’t really know what’s going to happen there.“But let’s just say the worst happens to Man City, I’m sure somebody else will gladly take him, because he is a good talent.“He’s been playing as a winger, but he’s more of a winger who likes to come inside, I do think he has qualities to be a number ten as well – he has a real chance at success.”It remains to be seen what punishment City will he handed following their guilty verdictGettyHaving alluded to the uncertainty surrounding City, Friedel was then asked which clubs should sign the player if Enzo Maresca‘s side are banned from registering new players.And in news that City fans won’t like to hear, Friedel believes his future could lie at one of their potential title rivals.To which he remarked: “Well, if he went to Man City in the first place at 18 years of age, my assumption is he would go out on loan anyways.“I know there are people that will think, ‘No, he’s going to go to Man City and start right away.’“Well, maybe, but the probability is no, with his potential talent of being a real star, I could see another big club taking on the opportunity of signing him.“I could see a top six or seven club in the Premier League taking him.Sullivan has seven MLS goals from 24 outings in the 2026 campaign so farGetty“But I do think that then he would need to go on loan to really learn a lot more aspects about life as a top professional player when the spotlight’s on you.“Because again, in MLS, you don’t have the pressure that you have over there.“If he were to, just to give a scenario, if he were to start four games on the bounce for a top six Premier League team, has no goals, no assists, no forward passes, no final third entries, wins no duels, etc, everyone will be on him unlike he’s ever seen before.“Whereas right now, he’s just praise, praise, praise, praise, praise.”