I give up — Man City boss Guardiola frustrated, ready to sell £45million disaster signing
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is reportedly ready to offload one of the club’s midfielders this summer.
Manchester City’s summer overhaul is already underway, with several players expected to depart when the transfer window opens in June.
I don’t get sick because I clean my blood vessels. Write down the recipe
Cardizoom
by TaboolaSponsored Links
One player likely to leave is Kalvin Phillips, who has struggled to make an impact since joining the club in a £45million deal from Leeds in 2022.
Pep Guardiola and Kalvin Phillips | Imago
A potential move to Manchester City for Ola Aina could change the face of Nigerian football according to a former Super Eagles captain
Phillips, 29, has made just 16 Premier League appearances for City, and has even been loaned out to Ipswich Town this season.
Air Conditioners Without External Unit (Click To See Prices)
Air Conditioner | Search Ads
by TaboolaSponsored Links
According to The Sun, Leeds scouts have been monitoring Phillips’ progress, and a return to his former club could be on the cards.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed confidence in his side’s chances of UCL qualification despite their inconsistent form.
Phillips’ time at City has been underwhelming, with many feeling he never quite fit into Pep Guardiola’s system.
With stiff competition from the likes of Rodri, Mateo Kovacic and Kevin De Bruyne, Phillips found it difficult to establish himself in the team.
The arrival of Nico and the reported interest in another midfielder this summer means his spell at the Etihad is over and will likely be remembered as a wasted opportunity.
Erling-Haaland
Manchester City need to get their 2025 summer transfer window spot on. It certainly feels like we are in the midst of another changing of the guard at the Etihad Stadium. Several of their biggest names could depart the club in the summer, with Kevin De Buryne one player who may be on his way out.
I don’t get sick because I clean my blood vessels. Write down the recipe
Cardizoom
by TaboolaSponsored Links
The Belgian stalwart will not be the only one who could be in line to depart the Etihad Stadium. At the end of February, The Mirror reported the likes of Bernardo Silva, Mateo Kovacic and Ilkay Gundogan, to name but three could also be sold.
Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva, Jack Grealish and Ilkay Gundogan celebrate after the match
This, of course, means City need reinforcements, particularly in the centre of the pitch…
Man City’s big-money midfield target
One of the biggest weaknesses in City’s side this season has been their midfield with Rodri missing for most of the campaign through injury.
Is your blood sugar out of control?
Explore a new approach to supporting its balance!
Glucose tracker
by TaboolaSponsored Links
Nico Gonzalez did arrive in January but despite that, some big figures could still depart Manchester in the summer
DEADLINE DAY 2025 PL-1
So, in a bid to replace them, one of the players the club is targeting is Newcastle’s Brazilian superstar Bruno Guimaraes.
According to a report from Graeme Bailey, in conversation with Manchester City News, he believes the Newcastle midfielder is a genuine target, stating Pep Guardiola’s side could end up ‘making a play for him in some manner’ this summer.
bruno-guimaraes-newcastle-united-premier-league
In terms of a price for Guimaraes, the Citizens could be looking at paying upwards of £100m, at least according to Bailey. That would see him cost as much as Jack Grealish did back in 2021 from Aston Villa, and become their joint record signing.
Why Guimaraes would be a good signing
There is no doubt that Guimaraes’ impact at St James’ Park has been second to none.
The Brazilian, who was once described as a “flawless” player by Statman Dave, has been pivotal in the middle of the park for Eddie Howe’s side, helping them to their first domestic trophy in 70 years at the weekend.
Bruno-Guimaraes-2
This season, the midfielder has been truly excellent in the middle of midfield, playing 37 times across all competitions, scoring three goals and grabbing eight assists.
One of his best performances came against Liverpool in the Premier League, where he grabbed two assists in a 3-3 draw. It’s that level of performance against a big side that’s attracted the Citizens ahead of the summer.
Should City get this deal over the line, it is a signing that has a similar feeling to that of Erling Haaland. That is to say, someone who can have an immediate impact on the side and become one of the club’s best players.
The Norweigan striker has been sensational for City. So far for the club, he has 119 goals and 18 assists in just 137 games. The 52 goals he scored in his debut season helped City win their first Champions League and the treble.
Haaland
Of course, it will be hard for Guimaraes to replicate the exact impact Haaland had, helping City win a treble, but like the City number 9 did when replacing Sergio Aguero, the Newcastle star can help to revitalise a midfield that is ageing and arguably past its best.
In signing Guimaraes, City would be getting the full package of a midfielder, as the stats from the last 365 days on FBref show. For example, the Magpies number 39 averages 7.69 progressive passes, which places him in the top 7% of midfielders in Europe, and 5.66 ball recoveries per game.
Guimaraes key stats & percentile rank
Stat (per 90)
Number
Percentile rank
Progressive passes
7.69
93rd
Key passes
1.57
83rd
Shot-creating actions
4.06
93rd
Successful take-ons
1.35
94th
Ball recoveries
5.66
72nd
Stats from FBref
There is no doubt the Brazilian upgrades the City midfield. As an all-around package in the middle of the park, he is one of the best in Europe, as the stats show. He brings athleticism, dynamism and progression into City’s midfield, something which they have lacked this season.
Bruno Guimaraes celebrates for Newcastle
It would be an expensive deal to do this summer, but singing Guimaraes could beo the addition City need to help spur them back up the Premier League table this season.
Leave a Reply