Manchester City have a lot of work to do this summer. But could they win the 2025/26 Premier League title with this new-look starting XI, following a £250m summer makeover?
Manchester City’s reign of dominance is over. They’re set to miss out on a fifth-straight Premier League title with Pep Guardiola’s side a painful 22 points behind leaders Liverpool, now playing for just an FA Cup and a 4th place finish in the Premier League table.
There’s talks of a huge summer overhaul at the Etihad. City have an ageing squad and there’s definitely some ancient legs in the side that need replacing with some younger, fresher ones, and there’s no end of new names being linked with Manchester City ahead of the summer.
Here we take a look at each position and discuss where Pep could make some improvements…
Vanja Milinkovic-Savic could replace Ederson at Man City
There’s a lot of talk about Ederson right now. The Brazilian hasn’t been at his best this season and there’s debate among fans whether he remains the best option in goal, with Fabrizio Romano previously reporteing that Ederson is likely to leave Manchester City this summer.
Assuming he does, Manchester City have been linked with a handful of possible replacements including the likes of former player James Trafford, and more recently Torino goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, with City reportedly rivalling Napoli for the 6ft 8ins shot-stopper.
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The Italian outfit have already put a £25million price tag on his head.
Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images
Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images
Manchester City’s defence unlikely to change
Despite City not being all that watertight at the back this season, don’t expect Pep to make any drastic changes to his backline next season, with the likes of Abdukodir Khusanov bound to become a much more solid player next season with this half-season of experience under his belt.
Him alongside Ruben Dias in the middle, with Rico Lewis and Josko Gvardiol in the full-back positions makes for a relatively well-aged and quality back-line.
Defensive names linked with Manchester City include Theo Hernandez and Andrea Cambiaso among others: Man City seem particularly keen on Cambiaso though it looks like Pep will spend the majority of his summer transfer kitty on attacking signings.
Manchester City midfield could see complete overhaul this summer
Midfield looks like where we’ll see all the action happen in the transfer window for Manchester City this summer. This department is where City seem to have slipped off the boil with Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne among those to have dropped off massively, along with Jack Grealish.
There’s suggestions that Grealish could be leaving Manchester City whilst Gundogan and De Bruyne are out of contract, though City have a one-year option to extend Gundogan’s deal. Whether or not they do remains to be seen.
A number of names have been linked as part of the midfield rebuild for Manchester City with Adam Wharton a target for Pep, potentially highlighting the City boss’ desire to really add some youth to his ranks this summer.
But Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes seems like the man for Pep. Manchester City have been linked with Guimaraes throughout the campaign and it looks like the Brazilian international might well be City’s marquee signing this summer, with talks of a £100million release clause.
With a fit-again Rodri, he and Guimaraes could be the two central options for City next season. There’s obviously Nico as well who looks like a good long-term option for City in the heart of midfield.
Photo by Hary Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images
Photo by Hary Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images
Man City’s attack could blossom in 25/26, with one or two more signings
Up front, there’s no doubt that Erling Haaland leads the line. But behind him there could be some change although Pep surely plans his attack around Haaland and January signing Omar Marmoush, who’s definitely shown glimpses of a player who can help City to get back on top.
Where Marmoush fits in though remains to be seen. It’s been reported that Pep could deploy Marmoush on the left for City but he’s been impressive in the no.10 role, and there’s more and more wide players being linked with City ahead of the summer.
Recently, it’s been claimed that Manchester City will replace Jeremy Doku with Rodrygo at Real Madrid in what could be a marquee summer signing, with the Brazilian set to command a £125million fee.
On the other flank, Savinho looks set to keep his position unless Pep decides he wants to play Marmoush out there, and possibly bring in Florian Wirtz as a no.10. But Guardiola can only make so many signings and spend so much money this summer.
Here’s how we think Manchester City could line up in 2025/26…