Manchester City are already hard at work to improve on a terrible 2024/25 campaign.
Hugo Viana is pushing to sign Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan to bolster the central midfield areas for Pep Guardiola, the Netherlands international who scored 15 goals in all competitions last season.
Manchester City also want Milos Kerkez to improve the left-back department, with funds available after backing out of the race to sign Florian Wirtz, a player the Citizens feared could end up costing as much as £250m in total.
Manchester City were also hopeful of an ambitious move for Lamine Yamal – although that now looks highly unlikely to happen after a breakthrough in Barcelona.
Lamine Yamal agrees new contract at Barcelona
Mundo Deportivo claimed in April that Manchester City were on alert as Yamal and Barcelona held talks over a new contract, with the Citizens ready to pounce in the event of these discussions collapsing.
The 17-year-old is viewed as an elite talent by those at the Etihad Stadium, and despite the fact he is valued at £154m by the CIES Football Observatory, it sounds like Manchester City were ready to break the bank to enable a move if it became a realistic possibility.
Unfortunately for Guardiola, Yamal has now agreed fresh terms in Catalonia, which will keep him at Barcelona until June 2031 – according to Fabrizio Romano.
The reliable Italian journalist posted on X (previously known as Twitter): “Lamine Yamal will SIGN new deal at Barcelona tomorrow, all done!
“Agreement until June 2031 sealed today with agent Jorge Mendes key to get it done with Barca. SIX year contract, one more crucial move for Barca director Deco and president Laporta.”
The Spain international has thoroughly earned his new deal, having scored 18 goals and provided 25 assists in 55 appearances across all competitions last season.
Manchester City already have a talent like Lamine Yamal, according to Kyle Walker
If Guardiola can get Phil Foden back on track next season, the England international is capable of putting up similar numbers to the Barcelona wonderkid.
Kyle Walker has already compared Foden to Yamal as a teenager, telling Sky Sports: “Probably, I have to say so (Yamal is one of the best youngsters he has seen) but obviously, Phil (too) when he was there (at that age).”
Foden is now 24 and struggled last season, which could be a direct outcome of being overplayed, having already made 360 senior appearances at club level.
Hopefully, Yamal can avoid a similar setback throughout what is sure to be an iconic career for the Spaniard.
