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Three games before the end of the season, and City have dug deep and salvaged their campaign to reach an FA Cup final and are set to finish in the top five, guaranteeing another season in the Champions League. Despite the positive note the Citizen’s season could still end on, it could be a season to forget for Guardiola’s side as many key players have began to decline- leaving a need to rejuvenise the squad further in the upcoming summer transfer market.
This process started early in January, with the likes of Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez, Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis joining the club. Since them, the winds of change have continued to blow through the blue half of Manchester, as it’s been confirmed that club legends Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker will depart the club this summer. They will not be the last big names to depart according to many reliable reports though, as it is suggested that nobody is safe and City mainstays like Ederson, Mateo Kovacic, Ilkay Gundogan and John Stones could depart the club.
As completed recently, I’ll be stepping into the shoes of new sporting director Hugo Viana, analysing who’s dispensable and who could be brought in as City look ahead to the 2025/26 season, where competing for the title will once again be the aim as ever.
Contract issues
On April 4th, with 10 games left of the season, Kevin De Bruyne announced he was not going to renew his contract at Manchester City and leave for pastures new in the summer. Unfortunately, since entering his thirties, injury problems have plagued the twilight years of his career, as displayed by his 15 starts last season and the 20 he’s expected to finish on this season. Despite this, when available he’s shown time and time again he’s still got moments of magic in him and that cutting edge that sets him apart from arguably anyone else in the league. 108 goals and 177 assists later, the Belgian has well and truly repaid the £55 million City payed for him in the summer of 2015, and will leave behind him a legacy of countless trophies and unrivalled genius. It goes without saying it’ll take someone truly special to replace him (but more on that later…)
City only have one more contract expiring this summer, but a departure much less dramatic with all due respect to English veteran Scott Carson. Initially joining on loan from Derby County, Carson joined permanently aged 36 and has made just two appearances under Pep Guardiola, but has been part of all the Premier League winning squads and was able to lift the Champions League trophy for the second time in his career as part of City’s historic treble in 2023. While it wouldn’t be surprising to see Carson put pen to paper on yet another one year extension in the near future, he may be another face annexed from the club as younger faces could take his role has third choice ‘keeper.
The real conundrum lies in contracts that expire next summer, with six players (all first teamers) set to have their contract expire. Goalkeepers Ederson and Stefan Oretga, experienced defender John Stones, and midfielders Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gundogan and James McAtee all have deals expiring next summer, so some of these may be cashed in on this summer while others may be best being kept around.
Out with the old
After a difficult period adapting to life under Pep Guardiola, many laughed at Manchester City for their £50 million investment in Barnsley-born centre half, John Stones. However, after playing an important role in the backline for their famous Centurion season, it was onwards and upwards for Stones here, cementing himself as an England regular and even experiencing a late position change starting in the 2022/23 season, often coming into midfield and even contributing important goals, most recently his 98th minute equaliser against Arsenal. However, as injury problems continue to restrict his playing time and turning 31 at the end of the month, it may be time to move on from the former Everton defender as young defenders like Khusanov and Vitor Reis embed into life in Manchester.
The goalkeeper question is a strange one, as despite Ederson’s experience and immense years he’s had as City’s number one, neither he or Ortega seem to be the obvious pick for who should leave or who should be the starter, something clearly on Guardiola’s mind as the two have shared game time much more this season compared to last. Ederson, who joined City in summer 2017 to replace Claudio Bravo, has been excellent for City throughout his time there but has experienced increased injury problems in the last two seasons, contributing to a noticeable drop off that leaves his future at the club up in the air. However, Ortega was initially signed as his back-up and while he’s been solid when called upon, hasn’t pulled up any trees when starting to suggest he should be the long term first choice. Due to his vast experience and the emotionless outlook that’ll be needed at City this summer, I’m going to suggest Ederson should be cashed in on and Ortega should be kept around, acting as a vice to a new face to come in. The Brazilian may be easier to ship off for some good cash too, being linked heavily to Saudi Arabia after being close to a move there last season.
As for the midfield, the encore to Ilkay Gundogan’s Manchester City career has been nothing short of a failure despite picking him up on a free transfer from Barcelona. Looking lost in midfield, which could never have been said during any stage of his first stint in M11, it’s clear at the age of 34 the German is simply not good enough not only to play for City, but to perhaps be playing in the Premier League. If City can get any fee for him this summer, it may be best to wave him off again, but if not restricting his playing time next season and letting him walk away on a free next summer would probably be for the best.
Bernardo Silva turned 30 last August, but despite City’s difficulties this season has not shown any major indications of a major drop off tat may be about to happen. Playing the third most minutes this season at City behind Erling Haaland and Josko Gvardiol, Silva has continued to play with a calmness about him that acts a crucial cog to how Guardiola wants his side to play. Though any extension shouldn’t be anymore than three years, I’d definitely be keeping the former Monaco midfielder around, not only for his talent and experience but also to act as a potential mentor to other young midfielders like Mateus Nunes and Nico O’Reilly.
One player Silva may not be able to mentor for much longer is academy graduate James McAtee. Last summer, McAtee returned to the Etihad after spending a season as one of the only bright sparks in an awful Sheffield United side that returned to the championship. However, after being denied the opportunity to leave on loan, the Salford-born midfielder has only played 900 minutes this season, starting just eight games so far. With players like Cole Palmer, Jadon Sancho and Morgan Rogers leaving City at a young age and forging great careers for themselves, McAtee could pursue this for himself, with sides like Newcastle, Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest and Bayer Leverkusen reportedly interested.
…and in with the new
A deal for Florian Wirtz, though very expensive, has lots of resemblance to the deal they struck for De Bruyne a decade ago. A young playmaker that oozes confidence, Wirtz has a certain silkiness about him that makes him one of Europe’s best midfielders. In the season before he left to return to England, De Bruyne helped Wolfsburg to the club’s first ever DFB-Pokal victory and a second place finish to confirm a return to the Champions League for their first time in six years, finishing the season with 30 goals and assists. Similarly, Wirtz played a crucial role in Leverkusen’s first ever Bundesliga victory, not only finishing 17 points clear but going invincible in what is arguably the best Bundesliga side of all time, racking up 22 goals and assists- he feel just short of that this season, finishing on 20. The numbers aren’t the main feature of Wirtz’s game, though; his silky smooth approach to the game, his expert vision and technical brilliance naturally helps draw comparisons to the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Jamal Musiala and even greats like Kaka. Reports suggest City will have to pay almost £100 million to get the deal done, and though their last nine figure purchase hasn’t really payed off in Jack Grealish, all signs point to Wirtz being a roaring success should he join this summer.
For the goalkeeping issue, Lille shot stopper Lucas Chevalier seems to be the leading candidate for Ederson’s long-term successor. Leading Ligue 1 in clean sheets on 11 with two match days to go and an impressive nine goals prevented this season, the 23-year-old has been crucial to Lille’s season where they currently sit just outside the top three. With a decent 79% pass accuracy this season too- for reference, Ortega has 81%- he’ll be able to come in and be comfortable on the ball enough with still lots of time to develop any on the ball skills Guardiola would require of him. Chevalier isn’t under a long-term contract either, only on a deal until 2027, so won’t be too expensive to get out of France as City look towards a new long-term number one.
Finally, with the uncertain futures of Nathan Aké and Manuel Akanji, another centre half might not hurt to add to the ranks, despite the impending return of the six foot five centre half Juma Bah returning from loan at Strasbourg after being brought in from Real Valladolid in January. However, 24-year-old Wilfried Singo not only has the capability to play centre half, but also as a right-back and enough on the ball quality to invert into midfield like Guardiola seeks in a defender or full back (in this case, both). At six foot three, Singo carries an imposing physical frame and electric pace that makes him a handful defends when operating from full back like predominately plays for Monaco and his previous side Torino. Averaging 1.56 progressive carries and 1.31 progressive passes per 90, the Ivorian has the on the ball talent that would make for a perfect fit in a Pep Guardiola system, whilst also having the versatility to play almost wherever he’s needed if necessary. Signing for Monaco last summer, he might command a higher price especially after his excellent season, but with Les Rouge et Blanc’s selling tendencies in the transfer market, I’m sure City could strike a deal should they wish to pursue his signature.
Any other business
With his game time continuing to dwindle, starting just 16 games this season behind the likes of Savinho and Jérémy Doku, Jack Grealish has began to be linked away from City after his development seems to have stagnated and looks a shell of his former self that earned him a move to the club in the first place from his boyhood side Aston Villa. At his final season in the West Midlands, Grealish put up 16 goals and assists helping Villa to a solid mid-table finish after barely surviving relegation the season before. Although, City weren’t buying Grealish for his goals and assists, but his undeniable creativity and excellent ability to pick the game up by the scruff of the neck and win it. Unfortunately, due to some groin problems and a new style of football to adapt to that dulls Grealish’s magic way of playing, the Brummie hasn’t been able to live up to the £100 million price tag he came with and now spends most weeks watching from the bench for City as Villa fans reminisce about the player he once was for them. Though it would make sense for Grealish to move on to pastures new to hopefully find a way to become the player he was at Aston Villa once more potentially in hopes of making Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad, it would be a surprise to see the Citizens let him go given the moments of genius he could still come up with for them.
As mentioned above, with the signings of Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis and Juma Bah, City invested well in long term centre-back options in January, in turn leaving the futures of experienced but ageing players Nathan Aké and Manuel Akanji uncertain. The former, who turned 30 in January and has started just 14 games this season after being disrupted with injury problems, has been an excellent servant to the club after he put pen to paper in August 2020 after getting relegated with Bournemouth. The latter has experienced injury problems also, with abductor injuries restricting his game time though he still ranks in the top 10 for minutes this season for City. Entering his thirties this summer like Aké did in February, now may be the time to cash in on both players as the defenders of tomorrow arrive at City and a new project begins.
