This week's Q&A looks at the situation with right-backs and a potential Pep Guardiola exit as Manchester City work toward the future
James Trafford and Pep Guardiola
James Trafford and Pep Guardiola(Image: Getty Images)
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Manchester City have faltered at one of the final hurdles in their pursuit of the Premier League title. A 3-3 draw at Everton was better than it could have been before two late goals salvaged a draw, but still leaves Arsenal in pole position to go and win their first league under Mikel Arteta.
City cannot afford to waste time on regrets though, with Saturday's must-win match against Brentford the first of five matches across three weekends that will decide the destination of the Premier League and FA Cup. With so much going on at the club, we'll be hosting weekly Q&A sessions with our chief City writer Simon Bajkowski.
The day of the week it comes out on may change depending on what City's schedule looks like, but essentially this is your chance to get an answer on anything you want - simply pop your question here at any time of the week and Simon will pick them all up and wrap everything up in one place.
This week we are looking at what a potential change in manager this summer could do for the transfer policy, as well as the questions that need to be answered in midfield and at right-back.
Do we have Bernado Silva's replacement yet. Kosamu Rosinga
1. Bernardo leaving, and if Kovacic also leaves, do you think City would sign a midfielder with elite passing range alongside Anderson next summer, or could Reijnders be that option? Then what do you think the future holds for Dias, especially with Khusanov, Guéhi, and Gvardiol competing for the centre-back positions? Do you think City will be patient with Savio’s development, or will they start looking for other options?. Anjith
Ruben Dias will be one of five centre-backs for City next season, with the three that you mention Anjith plus A.N. Other. That could be Vitor Reis but there are a number of different ways the club can go on it. I can't say I've watched Elliot Anderson religiously but whenever I see him his passing range seems to be pretty good! The one to watch would be Rodri given his contract situation but the club have sounded confident all along that they can keep him.
Silva is obviously irreplaceable because of the number of roles that he can play and his experience working with Guardiola for so long. Anderson would be an excellent partner for City's midfielders but they will need somebody else capable of filling in different roles. Phil Foden could adapt further, Rico Lewis could be brought in from the cold, but City are looking at bringing in more than one midfielder as an option.
That said, City do not generally have a record of quickly ditching players if they don't work out. It has long been established that any signing has a culture shock at the Etihad and time is needed, so it does seem fanciful the idea that Tijjani Reijnders and the rest are going to be cleared out in the summer when they have done more than okay in their first year.
Hi Simon, usually transfers can be complicated & while some might not work out & you have to accept it! Is there still interest from City in Morgan Gibbs White, & how is he possibly feeling right now knowing one of his best mates is getting the move he was so close to getting himself? thanks. Rashad.
Hi Rashad, it's an interesting point that often gets overlooked. It was only a year ago that City were well down the line in a pursuit of Morgan Gibbs-White and not only did he not get a move to City but (perhaps to his benefit in the end) a move to Spurs also fell through. That has to be hard to get over, and it is to the player's credit that he is now leading a late charge for Forest that could see them win the Europa League to qualify for the Champions League next year, and get the player a late entry to the World Cup squad with England.
Sometimes the door opens up again for players - like Aymeric Laporte coming to City at the second attempt - but most of the time it doesn't, as was the case with Alexis Sanchez for example. Gibbs-White looked a good option for Guardiola but there is now a No.10 in the squad in Rayan Cherki who has made a big impact in a short space of time and Foden has just agreed a new long-term deal. City don't need to strengthen in that position, whereas they do need to in the space where Anderson thrives.
Since its most likely Pep departs is there any chance City hierarchy don't do any business particularly any outgoings until the new manager decides who comes in and who goes (aka: Trafford)? Could they not loan out Trafford for a season and have him return to the fold? Mark
Hi Mark, any change in manager won't materially change the transfer business, especially if - as seems likely - Enzo Maresca is the man picked to replace Guardiola. Maresca is a man who is well aware of how City operate and while the system will have to move to accommodate a new manager it is also the expectation that the coach will buy into the way things work at the Etihad.
There is of course certain players that certain managers like and for instance somebody like Enzo Fernandez would make more sense if Maresca takes over, even if it is highly unlikely Guardiola would turn his nose down at the player. That said, the recruitment team rule and we've already seen with Marc Guehi, Antoine Semenyo and now potentially Anderson that the uncertainty around Guardiola does not stop City in the transfer market.
If we're talking Trafford, a loan only makes realistic sense if it is what the player wants. Trafford is very likely to be in a position this summer where he can bring a good offer to the table, and when that happens with any player City sell 99 times out of 100. When they signed a 26-year-old Gianluigi Donnarumma last season it was made clear that he was becoming their No.1 for the next 10 years, so unless Trafford thinks that those circumstances could change he should be taking a permanent offer.
Hello Simon, could you please tell me who Manchester City's right-back targets are for this summer transfer window? Thank you for your reply. Jack
Hi Simon, I’m wondering aside from right-back and midfield, will Manchester City strengthen any other positions this summer transfer window? Cheers. Dan
Thanks for your patience first, Jack, as I saw you asked this a few weeks ago and I missed it at the time. Although you may not be thanking me by the end of the answer. City have a lot of right-backs on shortlists as they have done for years but at the minute it looks like they are targeting a young player to compete with Matheus Nunes rather than somebody to take his place.
Givairo Reed (Feyenoord) and Wesley (Roma) are two in that bracket who would still cost a considerable chunk of money but it isn't breaking the bank for an established star. Interest in Newcastle's Tino Livramento has faded, especially with his horrible luck with injuries. With some of the centre-backs also able to play on the right, it isn't seen as a position where City need to go and break the bank.
It is, of course, the next important position after midfield but City could be moved into action by the market and their own players. There are always one or two departures that aren't necessarily planned for and it is hard to think that another season can go on like this where Omar Marmoush is getting so little game time and offering as little as he has. That could put City in the market for another Erling Haaland back-up.