Latest Man City news ahead of Saturday's FA Cup final vs Crystal Palace
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An aerial view of the Etihad Stadium and the expansion works to the North Stand.
Manchester City are gearing up for the FA Cup final this weekend as Pep Guardiola's side seek to secure silverware from a disappointing season.
The Blues take on Crystal Palace at Wembley on Saturday with a 4.30pm kick off. City released their new home kit for next season on Tuesday morning and sticking with the theme, the kit choices for the final have been confirmed while there is also the latest on the transfer front and the continued North Stand expansion. Here's the City headlines.
North Stand latest
Work will start next week on dismantling the Etihad Stadium roof as part of the next stage of the North Stand expansion.
City celebrated the 'topping out' of the North Stand build this month, which marked the installation of the highest point of the project and also the final steel being put in place. The roof of the new third tier has been built over the existing roof to allow the North Stand to be used in its current form throughout the 2024/25 season.
Now, with one home fixture left this season, plans are in place to remove the lower roof during the close season and allow the new structure to be completed in time for a planned opening in the second half of the 2025/26 campaign.
With the final game of the season at the Etihad taking place next week against Bournemouth, that leaves 12 weeks to dismantle the old roof, secure the new one, and also give ground staff time to relay the pitch before the Premier League season begins on the weekend of August 16 - just 12 weeks after the Bournemouth clash.
Kit change
Crystal Palace will change their socks for the FA Cup final to allow Manchester City to wear their home kit. The Eagles will still wear their most recognisable strip of red-and-blue shirts with blue shorts, but will wear white rather than blue socks to avoid a clash with City.
That will allow Pep Guardiola and his team to wear blue on Saturday rather than being forced into a different kit. City wore their yellow-and-blue away strip when they headed to Crystal Palace for their Premier League meeting earlier this season.
However, their two visits to Wembley this season have seen them wear blue. They won the Community Shield against United in their home kit and progressed past the Reds of Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup semi-final.
Palace's alternative socks will allow both teams to line up in the kit they are most used to wearing as they look to claim silverware.
Transfer latest
It's no secret that Manchester City will be seeking a right back this summer.
Rico Lewis and Mathues Nunes have shared the role for the bulk of this campaign - with the latter struggling out of position and the former fading after a bright start. Kyle Walker left for AC Milan on loan in January and likely won't be back regardless whether or not the Serie A side take them option to buy the veteran.
It means Pep Guardiola could have a vacancy in a defence that has been decimated by injuries at times this campaign. There are other options in his squad - Manuel Akanji and Abdukodir Khusanov could fill in - but a specialist is on the wishlist.
Andrea Cambiaso at Juventus is a player of interest and has the versatility to play on both sides while links have emerged suggesting City will seek to prise Tino Livarmento out of Newcastle United. It's a deal that looks fanciful given the Magpies are set to secure Champions League football, are under no pressure to sell and would demand a significant fee for a player who has improved in the north east since arriving for £32million in 2023.