Pep Guardiola promised a major overhaul of his Manchester City squad this summer and the club are sticking to his word.
After a quiet transfer window in 2024, City’s slump last season persuaded Guardiola and his bosses to spend big in January and again at the start of the summer.
Guardiola also warned that a number of long-serving players may have to leave if they cannot stay fit. Kevin De Bruyne’s contract was not renewed, while Jack Grealish is set to join Everton on loan.
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City - Premier League
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images
James McAtee and Savinho are also linked with exits and there are also reports suggesting Ederson, Stefan Ortega and Ilkay Gundogan could leave before the transfer window shuts.
Now, it is suggested City could move for goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to further shake up the squad.
Pep Guardiola has always been a fan of Gianluigi Donnarumma amid fresh Man City links
Donnarumma has been omitted from Paris Saint-Germain’s squad for the UEFA Super Cup this week amid uncertainty over his future, despite playing for them in the FIFA Club World Cup this summer.
PSG have signed Lucas Chevalier in goal this month and TBR Football revealed on Saturday that Donnarumma was no longer wanted at PSG as a result. He has been linked with Manchester United and Chelsea as well as City.
Gianluigi Donnarumma playing against Arsenal for PSG.
Photo by Xavier Laine/Getty Images
TBR Football understand City have spoken to Donnarumma’s camp as Ederson explores a move to Galatasaray – and Pep Guardiola is already on record as backing Donnarumma from his days at AC Milan.
Back in 2017, he praised the teenage Donnarumma, telling a press conference: “Donnarumma is a top, top goalkeeper, definitely. He’s big, he has huge skill for 18 years old.”
In 2021, after City faced PSG in the Champions League, Guardiola namechecked Donnarumma and called his performance ‘fantastic’.
Gianluigi Donnarumma would signal new era at Man City
Man City have re-signed James Trafford in goal this summer and added veteran Marcus Bettinelli to replace the outgoing Scott Carson. Stefan Ortega looks likely to leave as a result, and so too could Ederson.
Games 372
Clean sheets 168
Assists 8
Major trophies 15
Ederson’s record at Manchester City. (Source: Transfermarkt).
Links with Galatasaray have not gone away all summer after Ederson turned down a transfer to Saudi Arabia 12 months ago amid considerable interest from the Saudi Pro League. City were pleased to keep him last summer due to his importance in their playing style under Pep Guardiola.
If Donnarumma is arriving, it could further push both Ederson and Ortega out of the door – with both out of contract next summer. If they both left this summer, City could at least earn a fee rather than risk losing them on free transfers in 2026.
City may not have planned to lose three goalkeepers and sign three more this summer, but if that comes to fruition it could mark a new era at the Etihad given Ederson’s importance to their dominance under Guardiola.