The 2024/25 campaign has been a tough one for Man City and Pep Guardiola.
Having become the first team to win four English top-flight titles in a row last season, it is fair to say the Manchester club rested on their laurels last summer when the Premier League champions needed to strengthen their team further.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 3 |  NewcastleNewcastle | 32 | 18 | 5 | 9 | 61 | 40 | 21 | 59 |
| 4 |  Nottm ForestNottingham Forest | 32 | 17 | 6 | 9 | 51 | 38 | 13 | 57 |
| 5 |  Man CityManchester City | 32 | 16 | 7 | 9 | 62 | 42 | 20 | 55 |
| 6 |  ChelseaChelsea | 32 | 15 | 9 | 8 | 56 | 39 | 17 | 54 |
This term has highlighted that several Man City legends have come to the end of their time at the Etihad Stadium, with Kevin De Bruyne’s exit already confirmed, while Bernardo Silva is another who could depart Manchester this summer.
With Guardiola’s contract set to run for two more years, this summer could be make or break for Man City, and current Blackpool boss Steve Bruce thinks it could be an ‘interesting’ period ahead for the Premier League champions.
Steve Bruce will not bet against Man City and Pep Guardiola
Man City have already made some big acquisitions in 2025 as the January transfer window saw the signing of Abdukodir Khusanov and the arrival of Omar Marmoush amongst others, with the duo impressing at the Manchester club in recent weeks.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Bruce believes the January transfer window was a sign of things to come at Man City and expects Guardiola to have a big summer ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
“Without question (they will come back). They bought three players in January, which is a bit of a flavour of what’s to come,” the Blackpool boss stated.
“We’re shocked with Man City and the way they’ve gone this year. But you expect them to come back, I expect it to be a big summer, they have a big rebuild, but you’d never back against Pep, he’s proven to be the greatest coach of all-time, arguably.
“I would expect them to be there are thereabouts in the summer, it’ll be interesting to watch.”
Man City’s summer transfer targets
Heading into the summer, there has been a lot of talk related to Man City’s interest in Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz as it is believed that the Manchester club are ready to throw everything at bringing the German talent to the Etihad.
The 21-year-old is being viewed as De Bruyne’s replacement, while Guardiola is also keen on a new left-back with Eintracht Frankfurt’s Nathaniel Brown a name on City’s list.
Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White is another star Man City have an interest in, who could be an option for the Manchester club should they fail in their pursuit of Wirtz.
More targets will emerge as the weeks pass as Guardiola is certain to refresh his squad ahead of next season as it is desperately needed if the Premier League champions are to challenge Liverpool and Arsenal for the title throughout the 2025/26 campaign.
