Manchester City are plotting a move to re-sign Bayer Leverkusen right-back Jeremie Frimpong, 24, with Liverpool also interested in the Netherlands defender. (Teamtalk), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column
Manchester City fans joined BBC Radio Manchester's fans' forum to discuss the side's campaign so far and their expectations going into the season after winning a record fourth consecutive Premier League title in 2023-24.
Martin: "When I looked at the transfers and the squads I thought we were probably favourites for the title. I didn't think Liverpool had really strengthened, Arsenal hadn't. I thought it was probably going to be us [winning the league], but I was OK if we didn't win it.
"I don't think it has been a crisis. I know that word has been thrown around and everyone is doing emergency meetings at the moment but it is reality versus expectations."
Owen: "Man City weren't good enough in the summer. Ilkay Gundogan was brought back to fill a hole that he had left a year before. Why wasn't he just extended? Savinho has turned out to be great but we were taking a gamble on a 20-year-old who had not had much experience of top flight football.
"Then there was Oscar Bobb, another young winger. Everyone pinned their hopes on him and expected him to be a star player and you can't do that."
What do you think, has it been a season of disaster or one you can accept? Tell us your thoughts here
Image source, Getty ImagesPremier League clubs have agreed the dates for the summer transfer window.
The window will open early, between Sunday 1 June and Tuesday 10 June, due to an exceptional registration period relating to the Fifa Club World Cup.
It will then reopen on Monday 16 June and close on Monday 1 September.
Image source, Getty ImagesEarlier this week, BBC Sport asked its fan writers to detail a player who really needs to step up in the final few weeks of the season.
City fan Freddie picked out Phil Foden, saying "it is difficult to enjoy" watching him play at the moment.
We put that to our pundit Nedum Onuoha for his thoughts:
There is definitely something that seems off this season with Foden - but we are probably noticing it more because it has coincided with Manchester City's drop in form.
In addition to that, there are more eyes on him after winning PFA Player's Player of the Season for 2023-24 and helping City win a fourth title in a row. No-one would have expected him to achieve that again this season, although I am sure he will have hoped he could have himself.
This year though, Foden does not look the same and it does not feel the same. That is highlighted by the fact it took him a few months to score his first goal in the league as that is not something we have become accustomed to.
The main indicator is that, because of the way this season has gone for him, he is not even a guaranteed starter in Pep Guardiola's side.
It is always difficult to speculate around the mental side of what a player is or is not going through, because we just do not know. But he will not be happy within himself at the way he has been playing, so perhaps that is weighing him down.
City have also lost more games this year than in the past few seasons combined, so that can affect people in different ways.
I would imagine that Foden just wants to be playing good football and scoring for a club he supports and loves, so it is tough to watch.
From a supporters' perspective, the past four or five months have been tough to watch in general. The small moments that fans have been able to celebrate in recent seasons have not come as often this time around.
That could be down to injuries, form, or other factors, but it is not what they would have hoped for overall.
There are nine league games left and a very clear end point for Guardiola's men. Where you finish matters, but how you arrive there matters more.
Finishing with hope going into next season is important because you do not want a lingering negative feeling about what could be ahead.
Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford
Image source, Getty ImagesThis is the first ever FA Cup meeting between Bournemouth and Manchester City.
Bournemouth won 2-1 against Manchester City in November - their first win against City, having not won any of their first 21 meetings in all competitions (D2 L19).
This is just Bournemouth's third appearance in the FA Cup quarter-finals, losing 2-1 against Manchester United in 1956-57 and 3-0 against Southampton in 2020-21.
Man City have won their past seven FA Cup quarter-final ties, with these coming in the past eight campaigns (exception being 2017-18). Their run of reaching the semi-final in six consecutive campaigns is already a record in the competition.
There have been many standout free-kicks in the FA Cup over the years, so BBC Sport has wound back the years and selected a few to celebrate all over again.
Manchester City's playmaker Kevin de Bruyne slotted home a brilliant free-kick against Cardiff City on 28 January 2018, leaving commentator Guy Mowbray to offer an admiring: "How clever was that?"
The Belgium midfielder made the Cardiff wall jump yet the ball did not even leave the floor as it rolled coolly into the far side of the goal.
Image source, Mirror and ExpressThursday's newspaper back pages hone in on how Manchester City and Chelsea could earn up to £97m in prize money from this year's Club World Cup.
The two sides qualified because of their recent Champions League wins and could earn the biggest prize money ever awarded in club football over a seven-game format this summer.
It comes amid ongoing talks of the gap between Championship and Premier League teams and the financial differences between many of the top-flight teams.
The expanded Club World Cup, featuring 32 clubs, will take place in the United States from 15 June to 13 July.
Southampton will demand more than £100m for 19-year-old winger Tyler Dibling with the Englishman wanted by Manchester City and Tottenham. (Telegraph), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column
Image source, Getty ImagesThe winner of the newly expanded Club World Cup will secure up to $125m (£97m) in prize money, Fifa has announced.
The overall prize pot, shared between all 32 teams based on different factors, will be $1bn, with about half that figure divided between all participating clubs and $475m awarded on a performance-related basis.
As a result, Manchester City and Chelsea - the two Premier League sides in the competition because of their recent Champions League wins - could pocket the biggest prize money ever awarded in club football over a seven-game format.
In a statement, Fifa president Gianni Infantino said: "Fifa will neither retain any funding for this tournament, as all revenues will be distributed to club football, nor will it touch Fifa's reserves, which are set aside for global football development through the 211 Fifa Member Associations."
Freddie Pye
Fan writer
Image source, Getty ImagesWhen watching Phil Foden at the moment, it is difficult to enjoy in many ways.
We are seeing a player struggling for form, playing without expression, and perhaps battling mental fatigue after some of the most remarkable seasons by the age of 24 ever witnessed.
Not many superstars in the game have won the number of individual accolades Foden has, before even taking into consideration the boatload of collective silverware he has played a vital role in under Pep Guardiola.
However, he is the man many Manchester City fans will want the squad to turn to for a revival in form in the final weeks of the campaign to drive the club over the line in the Premier League and as far as possible in the FA Cup.
This is his club - he is perhaps the player who cares the most about it deep down because of his roots. In a time of real need, he is the one to carry us through a difficult end to a season that has brought about various challenges, not least for Foden himself.
Whether it is a run of form in the centre of the park for City, or simply the providing of big moments in front of goal, fans will almost certainly look beyond the campaign endured by Foden as a whole if he can deliver when it really matters most.
Find more from Freddie Pye at City Xtra, external
Belgium midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, 33, has held talks with MLS side San Diego over a free transfer when his Manchester City contract expires this summer. (Sun, external)
Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column
With the Premier League top two fairly set in stone and the relegation places all but decided, we asked former England midfielder Fara Williams to pick her final table from third down to 10th.
Nottingham Forest will hang on to third based on what they have built this season in terms of being defensively hard to break down and playing in transitions very well. They are finding ways to win games by playing to their strengths.
I do not think Chelsea are good enough to secure fourth. I have put Manchester City there because they have enough firepower and always seem to finish Premier League seasons really well. They have not been in good form but they have that know-how and still a bit of a fear factor against some of the teams they play.
I have Chelsea in fifth because if Cole Palmer can refind his form they will have a good run of games. Newcastle in sixth - where they currently sit - as I think they will continue on the same trajectory with their run of fixtures.
The rest is really difficult. I have put Bournemouth seventh as their pressing and high-intensity play will see them pick up form again and rise a few places.
I have Aston Villa eighth as their focus will be on the Champions League, then Brighton ninth and Fulham 10th as I do not think their form will improve significantly. They are still impressive finishes.
Having said this, it has never been so close in this area of the table from what I can remember. These teams are likely to finish within one win of each other so much can change on one result.
Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nat Hayward
France midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, 22, is open to joining Manchester City this summer amid concerns about his place in the Real Madrid squad. (Football Insider), external
Portugal winger Bernardo Silva, 30, hopes to stay at City this summer and see out the final year of his contract. (Mirror), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column
AC Milan will permanently sign 34-year-old Manchester City and England defender Kyle Walker in the summer. (Gazzetta dello Sport - in Italian), external
Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips is pushing for a return to Leeds United following his loan spell at Ipswich Town this season. (Football Insider), external
Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool have all been watching River Plate's 17-year-old Argentine winger Franco Mastantuono, who has a release clause of about £35m. (Teamtalk), external
Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist
What does Erling Haaland do best - besides scoring goals? Break records.
And that is just what he did on Saturday as he became the fastest player to reach 100 Premier League goal involvements with his penalty kick against Brighton.
Since his arrival at Manchester City in July 2022, the striker has scored 84 goals and provided 16 assists in 94 games, figures which tally to see him comfortably surpass Alan Shearer's previous record of 79 goals and 21 assists in 100 games.
Haaland and Shearer are now the only players who have reached the figure in their third season in the Premier League. Sergio Aguero, Thierry Henry, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Les Ferdinand and Matt le Tissier all managed it in their fourth seasons.
It is also important to note that Haaland reached this milestone with more goals and fewer assists than Shearer, which is unsurprising given he won the Premier League Golden Boot in his first two seasons at City following his move from Borussia Dortmund.
But this season has been difficult for the Norwegian given the decline in City's performances and results. A lack of service is a likely cause in his dip in stats.
Having said that, he has still scored 29 goals in 39 appearances in all competitions and 21 alone in the Premier League. That is only bettered by Liverpool's Mohamed Salah who has netted 27 top-flight goals so far.
Haaland has a goal or assist every 103 minutes this season in the league, but he was managing it every 63 minutes in his first season and every 80 in the last campaign.
So the 24-year-old has another record to his name and while he is by no means in a goal drought, he is at least perhaps performing at more of a human rate.
Image source, Getty ImagesWe asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Manchester City and Brighton.
Here are some of your comments:
City fans
Scott: A fabulous game of football from both sides. Brighton employed the high press with great success, shutting down City's attacks at source. City used the wings excellently, and should have reaped more rewards, but for wayward finishing. On the whole, a fair result.
Keith: City have arrived at a crossroads for Pep, and he hasn't got the team to play the same way we did. Things have to change, either by the style of play or with the players retained. Why does Pep retain Lewis, Gvardiol, Ederson, or Nunes?
John: Sadly, this was the day City's Champions League chances all but disappeared. Liverpool, Arsenal and Nottingham Forest will take first, second and third, Chelsea will take fourth while Brighton are in brilliant form and will take fifth. City and Newcastle are fighting for sixth.
Brian: City struggle to kill off games and because of this struggle to hold on. They made progress today but defensive errors continue to halt the team success. We have high possession stats but poor shot stats - it is a boring watch. Brighton are excellent on the counter-attack and City struggle with the speed of such forward play. Qualification for Europe is going to be a challenge. We need to be more aggressive up front.
Brighton fans
Fran: A mixed performance but also a good point. To be disappointed having a draw at City shows how far we have come. Just more clinical finishing for those two clear chances and we would have taken all three points!
Steve: Oh dear, two golden chances to win it! I suppose before the game we would take a point, but how good is it to feel slightly disappointed to only draw away at City. This team is showing real class and potential. Let's hope we can keep these guys for a while before they are poached.
Jimmy: Minteh's one-footedness cost Brighton here. If he had a right foot, he'd have had a tap in, instead of lunging two footed and missing the ball completely.
Stan: Brilliant performance from the Seagulls today. I would prefer a win but happy with the draw. Seagulls soaring into Europe.
Image source, Getty ImagesManchester City's Ilkay Gundogan says the experienced players in the dressing room have a "big responsibility" to help the younger players and new signings through the difficult spell the club is enduring.
The 2-2 draw with Brighton on Saturday damaged their hopes of reaching the Champions League next season and Gundogan believes the onus is on him and others to get City over the line.
"I've been here several years and there are quite a few other senior players who also have a lot of experience," Gundogan said. "There's a responsibility.
"Even though we experienced mainly positive things together throughout almost every season and achieved things, we always knew that this point would come where things would get tougher.
"Everyone else is getting better. The hunger to beat us is just increasing.
"I don't think everyone else wants to see us winning every year so it's normal. It's a challenge, especially for players like myself who are experienced. We have a big responsibility, not just to the young players but to the new players who joined the club.
"They have joined us because they have seen us playing on TV and wanted to play with us. We need to try and expect the best from everyone every single day. It starts from training sessions."
Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesManchester City boss Pep Guardiola says he feels sorry for the players struggling for game time during his club's shrunken season.
Normally at this point in a campaign, Guardiola is juggling the triple demands of a Premier League title push, an FA Cup run and a Champions League campaign.
However, City's earlier than expected exit from Europe and subtle tweaks to the domestic calendar mean Guardiola is only having to deal with one game a week.
That, in turn, means fewer changes are needed in areas of the pitch where he has a lot of choice – and in particular Jack Grealish has found himself squeezed out.
Grealish has not started a Premier League game since the defeat at Aston Villa on 21 December. Other than his surprise start against Real Madrid on 11 February, when he went off injured after half an hour, the 29-year-old's only significant involvement in 2025 has been in the FA Cup wins against lower league Salford, Leyton Orient and Plymouth.
"I feel so sorry for the players who do not play," said Guardiola. "When we have games every three days the rotation is easy but now I have to decide every game for the quality the players have."
For the home draw with Brighton on Saturday, Guardiola also left England international Phil Foden on the bench.
Unlike Grealish, Foden at least got onto the pitch, although only as a replacement for Bernardo Silva, who got injured just 18 minutes after coming on as substitute.
Guardiola admitted Foden's omission was purely a selection choice.
"Listen, all the managers around the world, when they select 11 players, they have to believe that they are going to win," he said. "I never found a manager who selects a team thinking it's going to lose.
"If we win I am right - if we don't, it could be better."
Manchester City will have to pay at least £70m if they want to prise French midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, 22, away from Real Madrid. (Football Insider), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column
Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesManchester City new-boy Nico Gonzalez does not believe there are transition seasons at the Etihad Stadium.
Gonzalez was part of a £180m winter spending spree as City looked to stabilise their season after a horrible run of one win in 13 games.
After a partial revival, Pep Guardiola's side are struggling again, with Saturday's 2-2 home draw with Brighton meaning they have now secured just four victories in their last 10 games, two of which have come against lower league opposition in the FA Cup.
While City remain fifth, which is almost certain to be enough to clinch a place in next season's Champions League, sixth-placed Newcastle have a game in hand and Bournemouth, in 10th, are only four points adrift.
After an unprecedented four successive titles and an historic Treble in 2022-23, it is being viewed by some as a campaign of transition for the Blues.
Gonzalez, a £50m arrival from Porto, does not see it like that.
"I don't think it's a transition at City," he said. "In every year, in every game, you have to win, you have to give everything.
"We have talked a lot about this. There are nine finals. I am pretty sure if we play like this (against Brighton) good results will come."
City had been monitoring the former Spain under-21 midfielder but accelerated their interest when results nosedived as Guardiola found it impossible to plug the game left by Rodri's long-term knee injury.
Gonzalez has already made eight appearances, having quickly established himself as a first-choice in City's new-look midfield.
"I'm so happy to be here," he said. "I feel great to play in maybe the best team in the world over the last 10 years in the world. I'm very proud."
Highlights and analysis from Saturday's five Premier League fixtures.
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