You can still be sure that Manchester City will be involved in big transfers throughout the summer and despite a quiet start in the window, that will be the case in 2024.
It’s a tumbleweed in the sense that in April and May news leaked out that City had agreed non-public terms with the new players, but here we are almost a week after June with only a few names in the hat so far, and nothing concrete. urgent. at the time of providing it.
Much of City’s business will depend on who leaves, and with Ederson, Stefan Ortega, Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne among those attracting a great deal of interest, plus the same old sale of some highly qualified youngsters, there will be room to fill and cash to spend.
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The midfield is a primary concern, largely due to the uncertainty associated with two of its key players. Bernardo Silva is set for another summer of speculation, it’s hard to see a more likely destination for him this time around, and Kevin De Bruyne is in the Saudi Arabian Pro League attractions, though he’s also open to moving to MLS this time, summer or next.
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A right winger is also on the agenda, given that this is where Jeremy Doku was looking to play when they signed him last summer, to see him thrive on the opposite flank.
City have also looked at goalkeepers, but this was based first of all on the idea that Stefan Ortega would leave and they would want a new replacement, but now there is uncertainty about the starter Ederson, who in the past was due to sign. A new contract but lately he is contemplating a Saudi offer.
Other spaces seem to count on leaving: for example, if Julián Álvarez were to leave, they would have to look to update their goal risk in the final third. The same goes for Kyle Walker at right back, given his links to Saudi Arabia. Arabia, even if it turns out that it will most likely stay.
Bruno Guimaraes has a release clause at Newcastle worth £100m. City have taken a look at Jamal Musiala, but he is too difficult to achieve. His Bayern Munich teammate Joshua Kimmich has also aroused interest.
Jeremie Frimpong, who left City for Celtic in the summer of 2019 and is now thriving at Bayer Leverkusen, may be attractive if Walker leaves, but Bayern are among the other clubs interested in him.
Real Madrid’s Rodrygo has been linked with City in Spain, which turns out to be anything that pleases the player himself more than the more level-headed bosses at the Etihad Stadium at the moment.
A deal has already been reached for Savio with French sister club Troyes, after impressing during a loan spell at another Spanish sister club, Girona. However, it is still imaginable that the young winger will remain in Girona for another season.
Although there has been some speculation, Txiki Begiristain is still the sporting director and will lead the way. City presents itself as a kind of transfer panel, with all signings approved through financiers and coach Pep Guardiola, but Begiristain pushes some players and convinces the rest of his merits when he sees fit, as was the case with Doku a year ago.
Carlos Raphael Moersen, known as Rafi within the club, has been mobilised to help Begiristain in negotiations since the departure of Omar Berrada, linked to Manchester United. The future of Begiristain may be more transparent over the next year.
Kalvin Phillips is an obvious choice. And Joao Cancelo too, if you think about it. Cancelo has been off the radar at the Etihad for 18 months after enjoying loan spells at Bayern and Barcelona, but no one seems willing to adapt to what City are asking for and so it will be. It is difficult to find a new home for him. It could simply be some other loan or a move to Saudi Arabia, if it is open there. Ortega had hoped to leave after failing to secure a new contract amid a preference for more consistent first-team football. however, it is possible that an opportunity will open up at City, depending on Ederson’s summer.
Last summer, City blocked Ortega’s move to Bayern because he was too far behind in the window, so they will most likely need an explanation soon. They made it clear to Ederson how much they appreciated him and what his new contract offers. still on the table.
No one else is “on the market”, but City would pay attention to serious offers from players who need to leave, as long as they don’t arrive too late in the window. Matheus Nunes, for example, could leave for just a year After signing with Wolves, if an offer comes in, it seems like a small market for him.
Ortega’s three-year contract expires next summer, which is why City had talks earlier this season to try out and get him to sign a new one. That’s why City are looking for players to sign new contracts long before they do so inside. of two years from the expiration date, since then the force begins to be transferred to the player. Ortega only indicated a 3-year contract initially, but those who indicated contracts of four, five and six years are approached with between two and 3 years left.
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As such, City have no one whose contract expires this summer. Scott Carson, the popular third-choice goalkeeper who signs one-year deals every summer and is now 38, had intended to end his contract but signed an extension. De Bruyne’s contract expires next summer, but each and every one of them is linked to the club until at least 2026.
Apart from Savio, which is already all fixed, it is difficult to say. The deadline for Guimaraes’ termination clause may also speed things up, even if the interested groups do not pay the full amount. As mentioned, many of the potential deals involving City are dependent on spending, so it’s possible that things will take some time to play out.
It’s no wonder that the city doesn’t have too many worries here. Not necessarily because they are incredibly wealthy, but because they manage to sell the graduates of the academies at the most productive price; They have made around £150 million from this alone in the last two summers.
This year they will already get £20 million for centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis after his promotion to the Premier League with Southampton. James McAtee can earn them £20m, and there is no doubt there will be more, given that clubs are keen to buy players who have not enjoyed much, if any, first-team under Guardiola.
City have also gained a lot from the sale of senior players in recent seasons, from Ferran Torres and Angelino 3 years ago to Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling and Oleksandr Zinchenko in 2022, to Riyad Mahrez and Aymeric Laporte last summer.
They also like to stick to their valuations of new players, so while they can (and will) spend more than £70m on a player, they try to reduce the price even with those much-loved names, and will walk away if they can’t get the other skin to advance, even on the most vital targets.
TL; DR: You don’t have to worry.
Nothing in particular.
City have not made any big splurges since 2017, when they took steps to rejuvenate the team. Prior to his arrival in the summer of 2016, Guardiola had been told the team would be remodelled after its first season, but the paintings were eventually spread out in two windows. City have since spent a maximum of around £150m on first-team players over the summer between 2018 and 2022, if they include add-ons for Erling Haaland.
Last summer, they increased that amount to around £180 million, with more than £100 million coming from sales. As a rough estimate, they could spend between £150 million and £200 million before the August 30 deadline if things go up. in terms of spending and meeting key objectives.
Doing your business sooner! And keeping Bernardo Silva, at least during the season, would be a great advantage. It would be very difficult to replace him and De Bruyne, given their wisdom in setting up and their major contributions, so keeping them or temporarily solving their long-term problems and bringing in their replacements soon after would be a great help.
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Last summer’s business dragged on until the end of the window because things didn’t go as planned. City have not recruited players who are in a position to quickly achieve the performance of players like Ilkay Gundogan and Mahrez, there is hope. that they will do it in the long term and, in the end, it has not affected them too much anyway during the season.
But a quiet summer would be ideal for Guardiola as he prepares for what appears to be, at least for now, his final season as City manager.
(Top photo: Martin Keep/AFP Getty Images)