Kalvin Phillips seems certain to leave Manchester City - most likely on loan - before the transfer window closes on 30 August.
Phillips endured a terrible spell at West Ham in the second half of last season, ending any hopes of him making Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2024.
He was replaced at half-time against Celtic in the 4-3 defeat on Tuesday, although Guardiola said that was to protect him after he had missed the end of last season with injury.
"That’s why we didn’t give him more minutes," said Guardiola. "I don't know what's going to happen. He knows the situation, and we'll see."
Gossip: Man City look to sell Coutopublished at 08:03 24 July
08:03 24 July
Manchester City are in talks to sell Brazil right-back Yan Couto to Borussia Dortmund and expect about £25m for the 22-year-old, who has yet to make an appearance for the club. (Mail), external
Man City 3-4 Celtic - tell us your thoughtspublished at 07:09 24 July
07:09 24 July
Manchester City's pre-season tour of the US opened with defeat by Celtic in a 4-3 thriller in North Carolina as Pep Guardiola fielded a mixture of young talent and established stars.
It isn't quiet in one specific part of the major football clubs - the acquisitions department.
I know that because I was once the acquisitions department - well me and the manager mostly. While each player returned from holidays like a bronzed Adonis, we were cooped up in a small darkened room, beavering the daylight hours away like vampires.
There is plenty of guesswork in the media and a fair bit of leaking from the players and their people, but the clubs usually try to keep their transfer moves as quiet as possible.
If word gets out that a player is available, they know they might lose him to another club or else the price will increase as a bidding war erupts.
These are high stakes games and many are impressed by those who gamble and go early.
Manchester City have always been good enough, and let's be honest wealthy enough, to be able to do this well.
The problem is that some clubs are trying to do the same thing and are ending up paying top dollar for less able players, because they haven't done their due diligence in the market.
This is another area where the use of data, or maybe over-reliance on pure data, comes into play - feed all of the numbers in, let the technology do the crunching, and out comes the answer.
The problem is that everyone else has got the same or similar data.
What is needed, of course, is good human knowledge and the vision to aid the use of the information they have got. This is why these departments should be busy just now, they shouldn't just be doing deals which are admittedly very complex legal and financial documents these days.
Even more time should be spent on ensuring the new £75m player hasn't got a hidden weakness in his game or even the odd skeleton in his closet.
Manchester City are looking at making a move for Crystal Palace winger Eberechi Eze, with the 26-year-old England international having a release clause of £60m plus add-ons. (Mirror), external
Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad want 33-year-old Belgium playmaker Kevin de Bruyne, which has led to Manchester City weighing up a move for Eze. (Guardian), external
Manchester City are interested in Paris St-Germain and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, 25, as they look to replace 30-year-old Brazil international Ederson, who could move to Al-Ittihad (Sky Sports Italy), external
Ederson will cost at least £40m if Al-Ittihad want to sign him from Manchester City, who are willing to let the keeper leave as long as their valuation is met. (ESPN), external
Man City begin US pre-season tourpublished at 12:31 22 July
12:31 22 July
Image source, Getty Images
Manchester City's preparations for the new season are under way after travelling to the United States last week.
Pep Guardiola named a mixture of experience and youth in his 27-man squad for the trip to America.
No players that took part in Copa America or Euro 2024 have travelled with the team, but the club noted "others may join in due course" when announcing the squad.
City will play four fixtures, including one against Premier League opposition:
Manchester City v Celtic - Wednesday, 24 July (00:30 BST)
Manchester City v AC Milan - Saturday, 27 July (23:00 BST)
Barcelona v Manchester City - Wednesday, 31 July (00:00 BST)
Manchester City v Chelsea - Saturday, 3 August (22:30 BST)
Gossip: Man City may replace Ederson with Donnarummapublished at 07:26 22 July
07:26 22 July
Manchester City could move for Paris St-Germain and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, 25, if Ederson leaves for the Saudi Pro League. (Talksport), external
Meanwhile, City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne has not agreed terms with Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad, despite reports he has. (Talksport), external
Grealish and Phillips included in pre-season tour squadpublished at 16:22 19 July
16:22 19 July
Image source, Getty Images
Jack Grealish and Kalvin Phillips have been named as part of a Manchester City squad packed with youngsters for their four match tour of the United States.
Grealish was cut from the England squad when Gareth Southgate named his 26-man Euro 2024 squad, while Phillips dropped completely out of contention after a disastrous loan move to West Ham in the second half of the season.
Striker Erling Haaland is also included after Norway failed to reach the Euros.
Ederson has now recovered from the eye injury that kept him out of the FA Cup final and Copa America duty with Brazil.
Back-up goalkeeper Stefan Ortega is also named, along with England defender Rico Lewis.
No players involved in Euro 2024 or Copa America have been picked although it is anticipated Croatia duo Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic will link up at some stage.
City open their tour against Celtic in Chapel Hill on 23 July.
They take on AC Milan at Yankee Stadium on 27 July, before further matches against Barcelona and Chelsea.
'The next Neymar' but recruitment is Guardiola's 'weakness'published at 13:12 19 July
13:12 19 July
After Manchester City confirmed the signing of Brazil winger Savinho on Thursday, we asked you to have your say on the signing and City's transfer business so far.
Here are a selection of your comments:
Jared: A great signing, can play both wings and a replacement for Mahrez who we missed badly last year.
Alan: We will have to wait and see. I would think he will be slowly integrated and won’t start many games until he is used to how we play. Our Under-21 players, plus signings like this guy, will avoid huge payouts to replace those that leave.
Colin: If Pep has a weakness it is player recruitment - £100m for Grealish, £45m for Phillips are just two examples and there are many more who seldom played for City at first team level. Danni Olmo would be a very good signing, he has a solid over all game, his stats similar to Gundogan.
Abdullah: Savinho is a class player, like Doku, he is very positive and loves taking his man on. We are used to seeing Man city sign players who are confident on the ball and pass well but last season, we signed players who specialise in carrying the ball. Now, we are looking to mix that together with skilful players that excel most aspects of the game.
Aditya: Very pleased, a natural right-winger and only 20-years-old, really excited to see him play. All we need now is a young central defensive midfielder to be back up to Rodri as Kalvin Phillips I'm sure will leave.
Mark: The next Neymar. Think we could do with a left-back, a right-back and central attacking midfielder as Walker and De Bruyne aren't getting any younger. I'd like to see Hakimi, Nuno Mendes and Musiala, Wirtz or Olmo.
From milking cows to Man City - the story of Savinhopublished at 11:30 19 July
11:30 19 July
Marcus Alves BBC Sport
Image source, Getty Images
Savinho is not your typical footballer.
Having grown up in his grandparents’ home in the rural area of Sao Mateus, in the south-east of Brazil, he learned early in his life to ride horses, milk cows and plant vegetables such as lettuce, okra and tomatoes. It remains his favourite holiday destination.
"If you ask him whether he wants to spend it in Cancun, Mexico or with his grandparents, he will definitely choose the latter. That's his passion," his mother Dona Nilma said.
As much as Savinho enjoyed the daily routine on the farm, however, he was meant for football.
It didn't take long for Nilma to find it out either - he was only five when she heard a prophecy from one of his first coaches.
"This kid will be a footballer," he predicted.
Savinho started playing on the beach, and after switching to the pitch, was soon on the radar of big teams.
Ultimately, the left-footer signed for Atletico Mineiro after impressing in a match against their under-17s side. He was 11.
Precocious, he went on to become, at 16, the youngest player to play for Atletico in the Brazilian league and, at 18, the youngest to score for them in a Libertadores Cup game.
His meteoric rise convinced City Football Group to move quickly and it beat competition from Arsenal to secure his services in 2022.
It certainly won't get any easier for Savinho under Pep Guardiola.
Do clubs actually play more games?published at 11:11 19 July
11:11 19 July
Image source, Getty Images
It seems inevitable a host of Premier League managers will point to fixture congestion in the months to come.
When injuries mount, or when time on the training ground is squeezed, coaches often reference the intense nature of the calendar.
But research conducted by the respected CIES Football Observatory has delivered data which shows clubs are - on average - not playing more competitive games than they have in the last couple of decades.
The CIES looked at 677 clubs across 40 leagues. In looking at a period from 2012 to 2024, its findings show in 2023-24, the average club played 42.4 competitive matches. In 2014-15 that figure was 42.6 and in 2020-21 it hit 43.9.
And if focus is placed on sides competing in the Champions League, data gathered between 2000 and 2024 also shows sides are not setting fixture records in the current game, as some managers may like to loosely imply.
In looking at the five major European Leagues, the CIES claim Champions League competitors played an average of 50.8 matches last season.
In 2020-21 they averaged 57.9 and in 2002-03 they contested 55.2.
Manchester United played in 52 competitive games last season, down from highs of 71 in 2020-21 and 66 in 2008-09.
Across all of the clubs analysed, only 4% played more than 60 games last season. In 2012-13, the figure stood at 5.1%.
While clubs may play added friendlies and - it would be fair to say - individual matches tend to be longer given increased injury time in the current game, the data shows that competitive fixture numbers are flat or have in most cases fallen, even if disgruntled managers say otherwise.
First words from City's new signingpublished at 18:02 18 July
18:02 18 July
Image source, Getty Images
Savinho: “I’m excited about the chance to work under Pep Guardiola, one of the greatest coaches ever, and someone I know will help me improve even more.
“I had an amazing time in Spain and I’m looking forward to a new challenge of playing in the Premier League and alongside some of the best players in the world.
“I can’t wait to meet the fans and my new team-mates and hopefully be a part of bringing more success to City.”
Manchester City director of football Txiki Begiristain: “Savinho is a very exciting player and I think the City fans are really going to enjoy watching him.
“What he achieved last season at Girona was remarkable and he is already a full Brazil international. He has a big role to play for Manchester City this season and beyond.
“We are totally confident in his ability. He is still young and has the potential to become even better, and everyone knows that Pep is the best at helping players develop even further.
“But he has already shown his huge quality and technical ability and is an exciting addition to our attacking area.”
Will Rodri be in Ballon d'Or contention?published at 13:01 18 July
13:01 18 July
Emlyn Begley BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
Players hoping to win the 2024 Ballon d'Or have now done all they can.
Nominees for the world's best player award will be announced on 4 September - with the 2023-24 season and this summer's major tournaments the factors considered.
Manchester City midfielder Rodri lost one game all season for club and country (excluding penalty shootouts) - the FA Cup final against Manchester United.
His record, therefore, stands at four trophies for every defeat - winning the Premier League, Uefa Super Cup and Club World Cup with City, and then Euro 2024 with Spain.
He went off injured at half-time in the Euros final against England but had already done enough to be named player of the tournament.
No City player has won the Ballon d'Or during their time at the club.
Games played: 63. Goals scored: 12. Assists: 14. Trophies: Premier League, Uefa Super Cup, Club World Cup, Euro 2024.
'Generational talent' becomes youngest MLS playerpublished at 11:21 18 July
11:21 18 July
Image source, Reuters
Fourteen-year-old Philadelphia Union midfielder Cavan Sullivan has become the youngest Major Soccer League player in history.
Sullivan, who is expected to move to Manchester City when he is 18, was an 85th-minute substitute in the 5-1 win over New England Revolution at Subaru Park in Pennsylvania.
At 14 years and 293 days, he broke the record set by Freddy Adu, who was 14 years and 306 days when he played for DC United in 2004.
Sullivan also became the youngest North American player in the top flight of a team sport.
He signed for Philadelphia in May, in the biggest homegrown player deal in MLS history.
"The collaboration between the Union and the City Group was - that did it for me. I always watch Manchester City. They're like every kid's dream team," Sullivan told ESPN, external at the time.
"For [Philadelphia and Man City] to come together and agree on something - I sat with my family and my agents and we decided that it was the best plan."
"He's a generational talent, one who can really change the game by himself."
Gossip: Atletico want Alvarezpublished at 07:31 18 July
07:31 18 July
Atletico Madrid want Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez to replace Alvaro Morata, who is expected to join AC Milan. (Mundo Deportivo - in Spanish, external)
The Football Association is willing to wait for Pep Guardiola to leave City before appointing him as Gareth Southgate's full-time successor as England manager. (Independent, external)
Ker-ching - City pocket from Muric dealpublished at 15:09 17 July
15:09 17 July
Simon Stone Chief football news reporter
A lot is made of Manchester City's money, as if all their wealth comes directly from their owners.
Yet, on a day-to-day basis, they are a profitable club - and one of the ways they achieve that is by the sums they receive from sell-ons from transfers involving players who used to be at the club.
Indeed, in a post from the highly respected 'Swiss Ramble' blogger on Tuesday, he said City generated £298m in player sales over the past four years. Only Chelsea have raised more - and only Leicester, Brighton and Everton got to half that figure.
Gossip: Al-Nassr end Ederson interestpublished at 07:40 17 July
07:40 17 July
Al-Nassr have ended talks to sign Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson, after having an offer of 30m euros (£25m) rejected. (Fabrizio Romano), external
Man City ready to send Doyle to Norwichpublished at 15:46 16 July
15:46 16 July
Nick Mashiter BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Manchester City have agreed to send England Under-21 international Callum Doyle on loan to Norwich.
A deal is yet to be signed but all parties are satisfied Carrow Road is the best destination for the defender to spend next season.
There is no option for Norwich to buy the 20-year-old but the Championship side are paying a loan fee.
Doyle was at the Canaries' Colney training ground earlier this month and is understood to have been impressed by the set up and head coach Johannes Thorup's plans.
The versatile defender can play as a centre-back and left-back with Norwich sporting director Ben Knapper having prioritised a left-back with the former Arsenal loans manager keen to lower the average age of the squad.
Doyle must now wait to see if he is included in Pep Guardiola's final squad for City's tour of the USA, where they are due to face Celtic, AC Milan, Barcelona and Chelsea.
Guardiola has limited back up options for Josko Gvardiol, who played for Croatia at Euro 2024, and Doyle could be kept on for the friendly games.
Doyle won the Championship while on loan at Leicester last season and helped Coventry reach the play-off final in 2023, losing to Luton on penalties.
The season before he was promoted to the Championship with Sunderland when they won the League One play-offs.
Image source, Getty Images
