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Gossip: Porto goalkeeper targeted as Ederson replacementpublished at 07:27 BST 23 April
07:27 BST 23 April
Manchester City are eyeing Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa as a replacement for Brazil goalkeeper Ederson, 31, who is in talks with clubs in Saudi Arabia. (Florian Plettenberg, external)
Along with Liverpool and Arsenal, City are eyeing Bayer Leverkusen's 21-year-old Germany attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz, who is valued at about £103m. (CaughtOffside, external)
On the flipside, Leverkusen have held talks with City over a deal for 22-year-old English forward James McAtee. (Florian Plettenberg, external)
Fresh blood? Or is O'Reilly what City need?published at 12:37 BST 22 April
12:37 BST 22 April
Freddie Pye Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
When the ongoing campaign got going last August, Nico O'Reilly was a name already on the lips of many Manchester City supporters. At just 19-years-old, the latest wonderkid to come off the production line of football's next big names was being tipped as a Rodri back-up.
Pre-season saw O'Reilly operating in a double-pivot alongside a whole host of team-mates but largely Mateo Kovacic, with the ultimate reward for his encouraging showings and a desire to learn being a start in the FA Community Shield win over Manchester United.
Fast forward nine months and we're seeing that same Manchester lad viewed predominantly as a left-back. Should we be surprised? Usually, yes. But after all, this is Pep Guardiola - a man who far too often is so far ahead of us mere mortals in a football intelligence sense - and even the wildest of positional alterations for O'Reilly such as a left-back switch should not have been ruled out.
But take a step back and it all makes too much sense; technically gifted, an outstanding eye for a forward pass, power in driving forward with the ball, physically domineering for defensive and offensive set-pieces, positional intelligence, the know-how as to when to charge forward into spaces created by attacking team-mates, and, perhaps crucially, a willingness to learn and a passion to succeed.
Perhaps the only downside to this O'Reilly surge to the fore is that there are only a handful of games remaining this season, with a summer of major transition expected in Manchester City's first-team squad.
The likes of Juventus' Andrea Cambiaso and Tottenham's Destiny Udogie have already been linked with Manchester City transfer interest, both of whom are excellent operators in the left-back role. And with midfield expected to be addressed too, could we really see O'Reilly fall back down to his role of a developmental talent for the future?
There is a clear case all of sudden for City to switch attentions elsewhere, perhaps investing in the right-back berth instead, and allow for one of their own to flourish under Pep Guardiola and become the ultimate versatile choice for the Catalan in defence, midfield, and attack.
With Rico Lewis, Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis, Josko Gvardiol, James McAtee, Oscar Bobb and Savinho added to experienced yet youthful stars such as Phil Foden, Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku, and Nico Gonzalez, the introduction of O'Reilly to this list further emphasises the mere fact that Manchester City's era of domination may not be ending any time soon!
Sutton's predictions: Man City v Aston Villapublished at 11:56 BST 22 April
11:56 BST 22 April
The race for the top five is ferocious and after seeing how Manchester City played against Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday, I just think Aston Villa will be too dynamic for them.
It depends on what team City boss Pep Guardiola picks, of course, but although they eventually beat Everton, they were very flat for most of the game.
I really don't understand why Pep keeps playing Bernardo Silva wide on the right, for example, and it would make much more sense if he used Jeremy Doku, along with Savinho, as his two wide men.
City's physicality in midfield has been an issue for them all season and I don't think Nico Gonzalez has made much difference there. He doesn't have anything like the same presence as Rodri, or Declan Rice at Arsenal, for example.
So, City could have problems coping with Villa, who cut straight through them at times when they beat them at Villa Park in December.
I thought Villa might be tired after their Champions League tie with Paris St-Germain last week, because they put so much into it, but they certainly didn't lack any intensity in their brilliant win over Newcastle and we know how much energy they have got in their midfield.
Villa have lost their past 14 visits to Etihad Stadium in the league, but that run will end on Tuesday.
City will be far more dangerous if Doku and Savinho both play to give them the legs they have been lacking, but it looks like Guardiola is sticking with the old guard so I am going for a Villa victory this time.
Midfielder Bernardo Silva is set to be the subject of interest from Barcelona once again this summer. (GiveMeSport), external
Manchester City and Tottenham are set to battle it out for 24-year-old Lazio centre-back Mario Gila, but the Premier League duo will face competition from Real Madrid and Bayern Munich for the Spaniard. (Caught Offside), external
Why Guardiola still feels O'Reilly is an attacking midfielderpublished at 16:49 BST 21 April
16:49 BST 21 April
Image source, Getty Images
Manchester-born Nico O'Reilly has seized his chance this season given the injury absences of Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji and John Stones.
He has been deployed as an inverted left-back, often drifting into midfield, and his forward runs have contributed to Manchester City's attacking threat.
Pep Guardiola's experiment has been working, but he still considers the 20-year-old to be an attacking midfielder despite his strong performances at full-back.
"The impact has been good," said Guardiola. "We now have one game a week, so Nico has to recover and he has to see if he can play every three day like Bernardo [Silva] has proven, or Kevin [de Bruyne] and Ruben [Dias] have proven.
"I don't know if these young players are able to play three games a week during a month. But it's a reality already.
"I admire a lot that he is playing in a position he has never played before. He is learning. Of course, he has to improve, but with the ball it's good."
O'Reilly scored City's crucial first goal against Everton on Saturday and Guardiola praised the 20 year old for his impact.
"His position is - I'm pretty sure - attacking midfielder and every cross he is on the penalty spot," Guardiola said. "That's what I like as an attacking midfielder.
"I'm pretty sure [he is a midfielder], otherwise he doesn't score the goals like he has scored so far. He likes to be there, he has a good shot and quality in small spaces and it's helping us."
Man City v Aston Villa: Did you know?published at 16:20 BST 21 April
16:20 BST 21 April
Image source, Getty Images
Manchester City have won their past 14 Premier League home games against Aston Villa, scoring at least twice in each of the past 13. Their most recent defeat was in April 2007.
Across those 14 consecutive victories, City have trailed in just two games, going 1-0 down in May 2010 and 2-0 down in May 2022 before winning 3-1 and 3-2 respectively.
In Premier League history, only City themselves against Newcastle (an ongoing run of 16) have won more consecutive home games against an opponent.
But Villa have won two of their past three league games against City, as many as in their previous 23, and they are looking to complete their first league double over City since 1962-63.
Will Gvardiol play central defence for Man City moving forward?published at 13:31 BST 21 April
13:31 BST 21 April
Image source, Getty Images
Pep Guardiola has praised Josko Gvardiol's displays across Manchester City's backline this season, saying he is thankful to have such a versatile player in his squad,.
However, on Saturday at Everton, he lined up alongside Ruben Dias in central defence and Guardiola was asked where he says the 23 year old's best position.
"I like him, especially with the build-up with the left as he is so fast going in behind," Guardiola said.
"Ruben and him are so generous. They talk a lot, especially Ruben, and I think they are doing a really, really good partnership, so he is an option.
"We will see if we buy, I don't think we are going to. Clubs need central defenders and we're going to have a lot, as we bought two young [ones] in January, but we will see.
"To have a player who can play there and can play at left-back is so important for us."
Alex: Part of me doesn't mind that we lost that match. Credit where credit is due, we were the better team for most of it, and showed great signs of where we could be next season. Let's remember the money Man City has and the value of their players. We held our own for most of the match. Sad to see the brilliant James Tarkowski injured though. Really good performance.
David: A disappointing result after such an improvement in recent weeks. However, this will give David Moyes a clearer picture of the major deficiencies we have in the squad when a key player such as Tarkowski goes off injured and we fall away in the final 20 minutes.
Gavin: Perfect chance to try out Jarrod Branthwaite and Jake O'Brien in central defencenothing to lose really, but Michael Keane got the nod when Tarkowski got injured and was once again a big disappointment.
Man City
Colin: Other than two set-pieces it is probably the most controlled we have been at the back. However, going forward needs to be much quicker as highlighted after Jeremy Doku came on. He injected pace and directness which created opportunities.
Gene: Nico O'Reilly may be an attacking midfielder, but he defends quite well. He's big, quick and doesn't get pushed around. It's going to be sad to see Kevin de Bruyne leave though as there's no one on this team with his vision and knack for finding the open man. They're still stagnant moving forward and there's not enough aggression. Overall the play is better, which hopefully continues towards the Champions League.
Andrew: Trust the academy. James McAtee and Nico O'Reilly are nailed on as part of the senior squad. Plenty more behind plus get a couple back; James Trafford has to be top of the list in summer as Ederson and Stefan Ortega will not improve from here. Then your 'rebuild' is more than half done. Vitor Reis and Claudio Echeverri still settling. All is good!
Gossip: Real Madrid unlikely to sign target Rodri published at 08:28 BST 21 April
08:28 BST 21 April
Real Madrid are keen on Spain midfielder Rodri, but any move is unlikely as the 28-year-old is settled at Manchester City and has no plans to leave the club. (Sport Bild - in German), external
Nico O'Reilly 'taking his opportunity'published at 17:57 BST 19 April
17:57 BST 19 April
Image source, Getty Images
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola talking to BBC Match of the Day: "It was massively important. We have three games at home and two away. They are tough games. Stefan Ortega saved the balls that he needed too and the players made a step up in the second half. We were more incisive. I'm really pleased with the game we made in the second half. The players performed really well, all of them."
On Nico O'Reilly: "He's not really a left-back. I would say all of our left-backs score, Josko Gvardiol before and now Nico. He is an attacking midfielder. We have passes, passes and passes and then we can arrive brilliantly into that position. He's arrived from the academy and is helping us a lot. I am more than grateful. He is taking his opportunity."
On whether O'Reilly has grown in confidence and mentally in the past few months: "For sure. He can improve, he is young. But when you play every day and you're playing it is because you can do it. Our fans love him because they love academy players. He is another player that can help us."
On whether the players are motivated: "We are fourth now. This week is massively important. Goodison Park, at home to Villa and then the FA Cup semi-final. To start winning the game and especially how we played in the second half is really important."
Everton 0-2 Man City: Did you know?published at 17:23 BST 19 April
17:23 BST 19 April
Image source, Getty Images
In what was his 199th Premier League game, Mateo Kovacic has scored in back-to-back appearances in the competition for the first time. He's now scored more goals in 2024-25 (6) than he had in all six of his previous campaigns in the competition combined (5).
