Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent
Sun 18 May 2025 19:30, UK
Man City are planning to avoid breaching the Premier League’s financial rules by cashing in on first-team players in the summer transfer window.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed what his sources have told him about Pep Guardiola’s transfer plans with a major overhaul on the cards.
Kevin de Bruyne’s departure will free up space on the wage bill, while last summer’s £80million sale of Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid has also provided leeway.
Now, further player sales are being eyed, with James McAtee expected to leave Man City in a bid to bring in pure profit for the balance sheet.
This comes after Football Insider revealed Man City could back Guardiola with £200million to spend to improve his squad after a difficult season.
Man City
James McAtee could be sold by Man City to raise funds. (Credit: Imago)
Man City to cash in on key players to bolster transfer kitty
McAtee is not the only player who could be sold this summer to raise funds and clear space, as Football Insider revealed Jack Grealish could leave the Etihad.
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Any money raised through player sales this summer is expected to be put towards the transfer kitty alongside their consistent profits in recent years.
O’Rourke explained that the departures of Alvarez and De Bruyne will immediately impact their spending, while additional sales will add to the kitty.
“*City have been making profit on player sales for the last five years,*” he told Football Insider.
“Last summer, they made a net profit of £139million, so obviously that helps with the transfer kitty.
“They’ve sold a lot of homegrown talent which is then pure profit on the books, and going into this summer their 24/25 accounts haven’t been done yet.
“That’s going to include Julian Alvarez’s £80million move to Atletico Madrid.
“I think that’s why City will have a really good transfer kitty to spend this summer.
“They’ll be saving on Kevin de Bruyne’s wages on top of that, and once he leaves on a free there’s a lot of suggestions they could sell some more homegrown talent.
“James McAtee is one player who could be sacrificed and any sale from him would be pure profit.
“As I said, they reported a good profit last year, now I’d imagine they’ll do the same this year.”
Man City manager Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola is preparing for a high-spending summer. (Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media)
Pep Guardiola eyes record-breaking Tijjani Reijnders deal
As part of their preparations for a big-spending summer, Man City have identified a number of key players to improve their squad.
Football Insider revealed on 16 May that Man City want AC Milan star Tijjani Reijnders and could spend a record-breaking fee to get a deal done.
City’s move for Reijnders could be worth upwards of £70million, dwarfing Milan’s record sale which saw Kaka move to Real Madrid for £56million in 2009.
As a result, Football Insider revealed in March that Man City could sell players before signing Reijnders to clear space in the squad and raise funds.
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