Man City’s £27 million choice gives Pep Guardiola a dilemma

Manchester City have been active in the summer transfer market, but they must downsize their team.

Sean McCormick is the content editor for our North East and Yorkshire football clubs. He formerly worked as a Newcastle United reporter, a trends writer who covered both the Magpies and Sunderland AFC, and a football content editor for the Manchester Evening News. He writes about darts and boxing. He joined us in 2016.

Manchester City have already been busy in the summer transfer market, signing five new players.

City paid a total of £123.8 million to sign goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli, full-back Rayan Ait-Nouri, and midfielders Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki, and Sverre Nypan.

City has a big roster, but Pep Guardiola wants to cut it before the season starts by releasing players.

The Manchester Evening News analyzed City’s squad roster and identified places for potential relocation.

Goalkeeper

City is now well-stocked in goalkeeping, but there is doubt about their alternatives for next season.

Brazil international Ederson is currently the number one choice, with Stefan Ortega coming in second. Bettinelli’s move from Chelsea will see him take over as third-choice after Scott Carson left the Etihad Stadium in the summer after six seasons.

Galatasaray are interested in signing Ederson, while Ortega is also on their radar.

City will have to pick which of their goalkeepers to sell after it was revealed that they are ready to sign Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford for £27 million this summer.

After selling the 22-year-old to the Clarets for £14 million two years ago, City are likely to re-sign the former England under-21 international after beating off Newcastle for his services.

The Magpies offered £27 million to Burnley, but City had a clause in the transfer agreement that required Burnley to notify them of any bids made so that they could determine whether to match them.

Trafford is anticipated to join City and challenge with Ederson for the number one spot, with Ortega the goalkeeper expected to depart the club.

Full-backs

This summer, City finally signed a recognised left-back in Ait-Nouri from Wolves, although central defenders Josko Gvardiol and Nathan Ake, as well as midfielder Nico O’Reilly, have shown to be good deputies in the position.

However, with Kyle Walker’s move to Burnley, they no longer have a recognised option on the other side. Issa Kabore technically meets the description, but dismal loan experiences with Benfica and Werder Bremen have likely ended his chances of building a career at the Etihad Stadium.

Matheus Nunes and Rico Lewis have recently played there, and additional choices for Guardiola include Manuel Akanji, Abdukodir Khusanov, and John Stones.

If City return to the transfer market this summer, they will most likely buy a new right-back, though a move for Tino Livramento, who has been linked with a move to the Etihad, is improbable.

Centre-backs

City have a lot of alternatives in the center of defence, and something will have to give this summer.

Ruben Dias and Gvardiol are likely to open the season as City’s favorite duo, leaving Akanji, Stones, Ake, Khusanov, and Vitor Reis to compete for positions underneath them.

Reis appears to be a strong candidate to join Juma Bah in seeking a loan transfer away from City this summer, although it will be intriguing to watch how they react to interest in Akanji, Stones, or Ake.

Midfielders

Again, City has an abundance of midfielders.

Rodri’s return from injury and the acquisition of Reijnders would indicate that they will be in the preferred starting three, however Bernardo Silva, who has recently been named captain, is also an option.

Mateo Kovacic impressed in key games last season, but a decision may need to be made on Ilkay Gundogan, who is 34 and out of contract next summer, and interest from Galatasaray remains strong.

Nunes is disposable, but versatility, as with Lewis and O’Reilly, is a vital trait. Phil Foden is also available to slide deeper into midfield if necessary.

It has raised questions about Nico Gonzalez’s future, just months after he joined the club from Porto in the January transfer window.

Kalvin Phillips is surplus to requirements and free to depart, but disappointing loan periods at West Ham and Ipswich will not help City’s cause. James McAtee is also available for transfer, and Eintracht Frankfurt and Nottingham Forest are interested.

New signing. Nypan is poised to depart on loan to Girona, one of eight clubs interested in the teenager.

Wingers

City has nine possible alternatives, but only two of them fit into the team.

Bernardo can play as a winger or midfielder, and his nomination as captain demonstrates his value to Guardiola and the team. Omar Marmoush can play as a winger or forward.

Savinho, Jeremy Doku, and Foden are all definitely part of Guardiola’s plans, and Cherki, who has arrived from Lyon, is anticipated to play an important role as well.

That means it’s unclear where City’s highly touted teenagers Claudio Echeverri and Oscar Bobb will fit in, and both could depart on loan this season.

Jack Grealish has been told he can leave City, but has yet to find a new club.

Forwards

Erling Haaland remains City’s key man, with a contract until the summer of 2034. Marmoush has shown to be a fantastic addition, and he will be a great replacement for the Norwegian up front.