Guardiola’s Last Season at City?

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City fans had to shorten their celebration of winning the Premier League after the side ended up on the losing side at Wembley when they lost the FA Cup final to Manchester United.

Now, fans who buy tickets from a secondary market and the global following are hearing more sad news: Guardiola is set to leave the club after next season.

The Inside Story

Pep Guardiola is expected to call time on a spell of unprecedented dominance at Manchester City next summer.

The Catalan, who joined the club eight years ago, has 12 months left on a contract that sources believe will be his last at the Etihad Stadium.

City will give Guardiola space to make a final decision on his future. They want the most successful boss in their history to extend his stay after 15 major trophies, including a first Champions League.

The fans who buy tickets from a secondary market are also in the same mindset as the footballing revolution that Guardiola has built around City is impeccable and will be the foundation for greater success.

But the club’s hierarchy fears that Guardiola’s ninth year will mark the end. At the same time, City stresses that there has been no formal indication either way from the 52-year-old, multiple sources within the industry and City have openly discussed the prospect of an impending departure over recent months.

The news will be a boost for City’s rivals, who have watched Guardiola mastermind six Premier League titles in seven years and become the first team to win four in a row.

City’s succession planning will begin, and Girona’s Michel, who impressed in La Liga, has been talked up as a potential candidate.

Julian Nagelsmann has a contract with Germany until 2026, and Xabi Alonso is highly regarded. Guardiola himself admires Roberto De Zerbi.

Guardiola has confirmed that he will be back next season but admitted that he is still determining which stars will head for the exit door over the summer.

Ederson is a target for Al-Ittihad, while Kevin De Bruyne – hooked just before the hour of Saturday’s FA Cup final defeat by Manchester United – is also the subject of interest from Saudi Arabian clubs.

Bernardo Silva has a £50million release clause. A move for Lucas Paqueta is off after his FA charge.

City are also watching the situation with Bruno Guimaraes at Newcastle United.

Ederson’s Future in Balance

A source close to the club has information that goalkeeper Ederson must ask for a transfer if he wants to leave Manchester City this summer.

Ederson has been linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League (SPL), but City are not actively looking to part with him. Offers will only be considered if the Brazil international makes it clear he wants to leave the Etihad Stadium.

The 30-year-old has spent seven years at City, winning the Premier League title six times.

He is Pep Guardiola’s undisputed No. 1, having made more than 300 appearances since arriving at the club from Benfica in 2017.

Signing a new first-choice goalkeeper is not among City’s squad plans for the summer, but a source told ESPN UK that the club will back itself to find a suitable replacement if Ederson decides to move on.

Al Ittihad is among the clubs that have registered an interest with Ederson’s representatives.

Ederson has attracted interest from Saudi Pro League clubs. Getty

He has a contract until 2026, and the City remains open to negotiating an extension if he turns down the chance to leave.

There are doubts about the future of Ederson’s understudy, Stefan Ortega.

Ortega will enter the final year of his contract this summer, and City risks losing the German on a free transfer in 2025 if fresh terms cannot be agreed upon.

A source has told ESPN that City have made the 31-year-old an offer, but it still needs to be signed.

According to a source, Ortega is facing a decision between remaining second-choice at City and moving clubs to find more regular first-team football.

This season was a lifeline for Ortega, who played almost all of the games in the second half and was pivotal in bringing the league title to City.

Guardiola is a big fan of Ortega and wants him to stay. The fans who buy tickets from a secondary market think the same.

They had their doubts initially when Ortega had to fill Ederson’s gap, but the German ended up being quite the revelation.

However, there is an acceptance he may want to move and become No.1 somewhere else.

Meanwhile, sources have told ESPN that there is growing hope Bernardo Silva might stay this summer. The midfielder has a £50 million ($66m) release clause in his contract and is keen to pursue a fresh challenge after seven years at the Etihad.

Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain have shown interest in the past, but according to a source, Barcelona is unlikely to have the necessary funds for the transfer. Silva has slipped down PSG’s list of summer targets.

City are open to offers for Kalvin Phillips and are prepared to sanction another loan move. The midfielder, who struggled on loan at West Ham during the second half of the season, has interest from Everton.

Milan Signing Heading City Way?

Fabrizio Romano believes it is too early to tell whether Manchester City could make a concrete attempt to sign Mike Maignan from AC Milan this summer.

The Sun reported yesterday that Milan is interested in signing goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale from Arsenal. However, Maignan could be sold ahead of the 2024-25 season amid uncertainties over a potential contract renewal.

“However, despite links with AC Milan’s Mike Maignan, I have no info yet on a new Manchester City goalkeeper because it will depend on what Ederson wants to do.

“At the moment, it’s too early to say. Many goalkeepers will be linked with Man City, but I have nothing confirmed yet.

Thus, it seems that a potential move for Maignan hinges on whether or not Ederson leaves and then on the list of potential replacements that City draws up.

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