Manchester City

Shamoon Hafez
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City and Chelsea remain locked in negotiations about Enzo Maresca replacing Pep Guardiola.

Guardiola announced on 22 May he would step down as City boss after a trophy laden decade in charge, and Maresca was quickly identified as the leading contender to be his replacement.

Talks are at an advanced stage, with senior figures at both clubs discussing a compensation package for Maresca.

The 46-year-old won the Club World Cup and Conference League during his time at Stamford Bridge but left in January and is keen to take the City job.

Chelsea feel they are due compensation under the terms of Maresca's departure as he was contracted to the club until 2029 and left just six months ago.

The London club have been exploring their legal options and expect a compensation package to be paid, though it remains unclear both how much that might be, or when it will be resolved.

Compensation negotiations have been made more complex as Chelsea became aware of City's potential interest early in October and December.

Maresca was an assistant to Guardiola during City's Treble-winning 2022-23 campaign and played a key role in the club's academy prior to joining the first team.

Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City are understood to be feeling positive in conversations around a new contract for defender Josko Gvardiol.

The 24-year-old's current deal expires in 2028 and City are looking to tie him down at Etihad Stadium for the long term.

Gvardiol won City's player of the season award in 2024-25 but played only 25 games in all competitions last season as his campaign was disrupted for four months after sustaining a broken leg in January.

The player has been linked, external with a move to Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, but there is positivity from the hierarchy at City that he will remain at the club, with talks over an extension said to be progressing well.

Gvardiol is currently preparing for the World Cup with Croatia and could come up against some of his City team-mates in their opening game against England on 17 June (kick-off 21:00 BST).

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

A Fenerbahce presidential candidate is targeting Manchester City defender Nathan Ake as a potential summer signing.

Ake, 31, is expected to be sold by City this summer, with one year remaining on his contract, having had limited game time in Pep Guardiola's final season in charge.

Presidential candidate Aziz Yildirim, working alongside technical director Hasan Anil Eken, has held discussions with Ake's representatives over a possible move to Fenerbahce, who finished runners-up in the Turkish league last season.

Ake, who joined City for £41m from Bournemouth in 2020, has won four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, two League Cups and the Champions League during his time at Etihad Stadium.

We asked for your views on what one thing needs to change at Manchester City before the new campaign and why.

Here are some of your comments:

Bobby: I think City don't need to massively sign Anderson as a Silva replacement. They have Foden, who, with some proper guidance with a new manager, can grow into the Silva role. They should perhaps target a cheaper replacement option like Adam Wharton or Alex Scott and that way the club won't be in a Grealish situation again.

Harry: For one, we just need to announce the new manager. We also desperately need to get Rodri and Gvardiol new contracts. On top of that, we need a duelling, ball-winning midfielder and right-back depth to back up Nunes. If we're selling Savinho then replacing him would be great, but the market for wingers is woeful and doing so is very unlikely.

Ian: We need a good up-and-coming striker so that Haaland doesn't have to play all the time.

David: We need a stronger defence, strengthen both full-backs and a great defensive midfielder.

Youssef: The one thing we need to sort is the 115 possible charges. Everyone always talks about it and it will be really delightful to get that out of the way, even if it means a points deduction. I don't think we need to strengthen any positions, maybe just a right-back. Other than that, Manchester City is perfect.

Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City's owners have "no intention" of selling the club as they see it as a "long-term investment", says chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak.

The Abu Dhabi United Group backed by United Arab Emirates vice president Sheikh Mansour completed their takeover of the club in 2008 for £200m.

According to Transfermarkt,, external City are now the third most valuable club in the world with a market value of £1.14bn, behind only Champions League winners Paris St-Germain and Spanish giants Real Madrid.

In a report, external published in January, finance auditors Deloitte ranked City in sixth position in terms of revenue generated last season at £716m.

"When Sheikh Mansour looks at this club, he sees it as a long-term investment," said Khaldoon in part two of his in-house interview.

"Not just Sheikh Mansour but the shareholders who have invested in this club over the years buy into the vision that we are going to invest in something that's going to grow in value over time.

"Of course, His Highness has no intention of selling this business, but over time, new shareholders come in at different value points that show how that value is really growing.

"So, this club, when Sheikh Mansour first invested in it, the value was $100-120m back in 2008. Then over the years we've had multiple stop points where the value went from $120m to $1bn."

Meanwhile, the City Football Group now controls a total of 12 clubs spanning five continents.

"There's no intention to sell," added Khaldoon. "There's only intention to keep growing this because the view here is this will only grow and this is a beautiful business to own. It's football and it's entertainment.

"In the world we're in today, while the world changes and people's attention goes to different things, sport stays and football within sports is the pinnacle.

"Manchester City and this group within the football world is a pinnacle and these sorts of jewels, you don't sell."

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal trio Declan Rice, Gabriel and David Raya have been nominated for the Professional Footballers' Association men's player of the year award alongside Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes and Manchester City duo Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki.

Midfielder Rice, defender Gabriel and goalkeeper Raya were all key players as Arsenal won the Premier League for the first time in 22 years.

Striker Haaland netted 27 goals to end as the division's leading scorer, while Cherki enjoyed a successful first season in the Premier League.

Fernandes won the Football Writers' Association's men's footballer of the year award for the 2025-26 campaign.

The winners will be honoured on Tuesday, 25 August at the 53rd annual PFA Awards Ceremony in Manchester.

Cherki has also been nominated for the PFA young player of the year award, alongside City team-mate and England international Nico O'Reilly, who was named as the Premier League's young player of the season last week.

Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, another England international, is also among the nominees after playing a key role in Michael Carrick's side.

Bournemouth forward Eli Junior Kroupi is another on the shortlist after he scored 13 goals in 33 matches in his debut Premier League campaign.

Max Dowman and Rio Ngumoha, who have represented England at under-19 level, complete the list of nominees thanks to their performances for Arsenal and Liverpool respectively.

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

With all 48 World Cup squads now confirmed, we look at how they shape up and compare with each other leading into the tournament.

Which clubs have the most players?

Looking just at the 20 clubs that made up the 2025-26 Premier League, only this season's top three have more players at the World Cup than Conference League winners Crystal Palace (12).

Including players out on loan over the season, Sunderland remarkably have as many representatives on the global stage as Chelsea and Liverpool (11), showing just how globe-trotting their recruitment was following promotion last summer.

The majority of Brentford, Everton and Leeds' squads can put their feet up and recharge their batteries for next season, with those clubs sending just four players each.

• Get more key stats on participation

Shamoon Hafez
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Pep Guardiola threatened to quit Manchester City "100 times" during his decade-long reign as manager but chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said this time he knew the Spaniard "actually meant it".

Guardiola, 55, stepped down at the end of this season after leading the club to 17 major trophies, including six Premier League titles and a Champions League victory.

He had one more year remaining on his contract but said in his last news conference that the club needed a "new manager" and "new energy".

Speaking in his annual interview with in-house media, Khaldoon said he realised the exit was to become a reality, adding: "I knew it and that's why I didn't fight it.

"Throughout these years, I've always fought it and always brought him back because I knew that was always the answer.

"But in this particular one, I think he knew - and I knew that he knew - and that is why it was the right thing for him and it was the natural thing."

Before last month's FA Cup final victory over Chelsea, Guardiola was asked whether the visit to Wembley Stadium would be his last. He replied by saying "no way", and that he had "one more year [on his contract]".

But the playful way in which he delivered that line and his quick exit from the room raised a few eyebrows, adding to the mounting speculation.

Guardiola was asked after the draw at Bournemouth on 19 May whether he would still be in charge next season and he replied by saying he had to talk to Khaldoon. His decision was confirmed three days later.

"He's more than just the manager of the club," said Khaldoon. "To me, he's a friend. Over these years we have become close friends and I don't know if he will admit it, but I consider myself his psychiatrist.

"Inevitably we have had a lot of ups and some downs and in the downs, he must have quit 100 times over these 10 years.

"He never thought he would stay more than four years, then more than five years. So in his mind, even year four and five it was always 'OK, how much more time? How much more time?' And it always had to be done in the correct way.

"There was always going to be one moment where it was going to be real."

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on whether Elliot Anderson would be your first-choice signing in midfield and how much you would be willing to pay, after Manchester City had their first bid turned down by Nottingham Forest.

Here are some of your comments:

Chris: He would be up there for me as a top priority. With Bernardo Silva going, we need someone in the middle with a good work ethic and he fits the bill. Towards the end of the season, Anderson began to add goals to his game too. He looks a pretty complete footballer, and with question marks over Rodri, I would be hopeful of us agreeing a fee for him. If we don't pay it, someone else will.

Carl: Anderson has had one good Premier League season (much like Enzo Maresca!) but is nowhere near the quality of a Declan Rice yet. Anderson is probably worth £60m but will cost twice that. Reminds me of the Jack Grealish transfer when City massively overpaid for a good English player. City should pass on Anderson if it's more than £70m and look for better value abroad.

Youssef: Anderson and Rodri (if he stays) in midfield would be dynamic. Anderson could make up for the versatility and work-rate of Silva, so we need him. As for the cost, my ceiling would be £120m. Might sound like a lot, but when you watch him, you'll know he's worth it.

Harry: The price I expect for Anderson is maybe slightly more than Arsenal paid for Rice. Whether he's worth that or not is subjective - all I'd say is that (just as Rice is for Arsenal) he's the exact profile we are in dire need of having lost Bernie. He will objectively improve our midfield and be a starter, which is incredible to say at 23 years old. Evangelos Marinakis wants £120m and I can't blame him. Elliot is an incredible talent and he walks into our team. I don't want any alternatives, and arguing over £10-15m with a side like Forest seems petty. Give them the amount they want - we'll be called a moneybags side regardless.

Ian: I don't see how he's worth in excess of £100m. We've made that mistake once and I can't believe we would make it again.

Sefunmi: Anderson has to be our first choice, not only because the midfielder market is quite sparse but because of, simply, natural ability. We're talking about one of the best players in the world in the next few years.

Jaydee: City have a history of not being held to ransom despite their deep pockets. I expect they will have a ceiling and at least one or two other cheaper options - Adam Wharton, Alex Scott, etc. See Florian Wirtz and Rayan Cherki as most recent examples.

The 2026-27 Premier League season will be here before we know it, with the first matches taking place on Saturday, 22 August.

We have a simple question for you - what one thing needs to change at your club before the new campaign and why?

It can be a player, manager, ticketing issue, owner, or wider change.

Let us know in detail here

Daniel Austin
BBC Sport senior journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City are contemplating taking legal action after a Real Madrid presidential candidate promised to sign their striker Erling Haaland.

Enrique Riquelme - a renewable energy magnate who is challenging current president Florentino Perez for the position - unveiled a Real Madrid shirt bearing Haaland's name while on television on Wednesday, saying: "He has a release clause and would like to join Real Madrid. If I become president, he will play for Real Madrid."

A swift denial was issued in a joint statement by Haaland's father and agent, before City rubbished the suggestion.

"The stories which have emerged from Spain regarding the future of Erling Haaland are untrue," the statement read. "There is no chance of this happening and there is no contractual clause to enable it.

"We are considering legal action for the use of our player image in this context."

Haaland's father Alfe Inge and agent Rafaela Pimenta said in their joint statement: "All very entertaining but not true.

"We wish all the best for both candidates in the Real Madrid elections."

• Read more here

Image source, Getty Images

So, Manchester City have had an opening offer for Elliot Anderson turned down by Nottingham Forest.

After a brilliant season at the City Ground, it has been widely expected that Anderson would move on this summer.

A potential fee for Anderson could be a record for a British player and eclipse the £105m Arsenal paid West Ham for Declan Rice in 2023.

City have made the first move with the 23-year-old England international leaning towards a move to Etihad Stadium over Manchester United.

What do you think about this development/ Would Anderson be your first choice for central midfield - and if not, why not? Also, how much would you be willing to pay if you were in charge of the negotiations?

Let us know here

Atletico Madrid are keen on Manchester City midfielder Tijjani Reijnders. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

The way things at Chelsea have "fallen apart" since Enzo Maresca's exit shows "how important a figure and how good a manager he was", says The Athletic journalist and Blues fan Lucy Oliver.

BBC Radio Manchester spoke to fans of both of Maresca's former sides in England, Chelsea and Leicester, to assesses the Italian's suitability as Pep Guardiola's successor at Manchester City.

"There had been the public showings of discontent," Oliver said. "He had stopped wearing the club's tracksuit and had spoken out against the owner.

"We could tell not everything was quite what it seemed.

"He did get quite a hard time with the Chelsea fans, maybe because he is quite a reserved character and not that big, flamboyant personality type. They had started to turn around on him a little bit because he had spoken out about the ownership and it was the ownership above him that we were griping with.

"That's what made it harder when he left. While they gave him a tough time to start with, by the end he was the only hope and the person who was actually getting a tune out of these players. The way it has fallen apart after he's left just shows how important a figure and how good a manager he was."

On Maresca's Championship-winning campaign with Leicester, Foxes fan Ben added: "It was incredible. Off the back of the Premier League relegation there was uncertainty but there was excitement when he came in. It was amazing to go straight back up, especially with what else was going on at the club.

"He's from that Pep lineage of managers we are seeing be so successful. A lot of possession, a lot of the ball with the centre backs to bring on the press, and then breaking the line with passes. Interesting things with inverting the full-backs - there are lot of similarities.

"He is the perfect successor I would say."

Listen to the full chat below or on BBC Sounds

Manchester City and Chelsea are interested in Juventus' wing-back Andrea Cambiaso, 26, with Barcelona also monitoring the Italy international's situation. (Gazzetta dello Sport - in Italian), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

In a new BBC Sport documentary, James Milner reflects on a career that has ended at 40, after making a record 658 Premier League appearances with six different clubs.

Team-mates and coaches reveal the drive behind 24 years at the top.

Watch below or on BBC iPlayer here