Transfer deadline day is underway and it may get busy at Manchester City as boss Pep Guardiola now targets some last-ditch signings and sanctions a host of late outgoings.
The Citizens remain busy in the window ahead of the sales slamming shut to Premier League sides at 23:00 BST on September 1. Guardiola is keen to add the finishing touches to a team he hopes will defend Manchester City’s European treble. While a few may also say goodbye.
Manchester City’s Premier League title defence has started as the Etihad Stadium outfit will mean to go on. They are the only club to win each of their opening three fixtures to claim an early advantage. City even conceded for the only time after 265 of their 270 minutes played.
Yet Guardiola still sees scope to strengthen and has given a handful of players permission to explore pastures new. So, with that in mind, here are some of the signings that Manchester City may target on deadline day and a few of the outgoing transfers likely at Etihad Stadium.
Manchester City’s potential transfer deadline day signings
Deadline day is bound to feature Manchester City targeting the transfer of a new midfielder with Guardiola intent on signing Matheus Nunes from Wolves. The Athletic even reported in the build-up to deadline day that the 25-year-old refused to train with the Molineux natives.
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Nunes also informed Wolves of his desire to sign for Manchester City, who had failed with a €55m (£47m) bid. But the teams reached an agreement on a £53m deal that features a 10% sell-on clause, per Sky Sports. He quit Sporting Lisbon for the Old Gold last year for £42m.
Guardiola is even also open to reinforcing the Etihad Stadium attack despite their capture of Jeremy Doku. The Evening Standard claims that Manchester City could target a deadline day deal for Eberechi Eze of Crystal Palace. But the Eagles want £70m for their England maestro.
Crystal Palace are extremely loath to lose Eze but Manchester City are considering tabling an offer. He has scored 15 and assisted 11 goals in 88 Premier League matches since joining the Eagles in August 2020. But Eze has just two years remaining on his contract at Selhurst Park.
A deal to sign Dani Olmo from RB Leipzig would also be a real challenge before the window closes. Christian Falk reports that while Manchester City admire the Spaniard, his Bundesliga club have no interest in selling. Die Roten Bullen are ready to reject any offer from any team.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall also features on Manchester City’s late-window shopping list, as per 90min. It notes that Etihad Stadium chiefs appreciate the 24-year-old and the chance to sign him that Leicester City’s relegation raised. But any move would hinge on offloading a player.
Four players who could still leave Etihad Stadium
The future of Kalvin Phillips at Etihad Stadium is likely to have a decisive factor in any swoop by Manchester City to seal a deadline day transfer from Leicester for Dewsbury-Hall. 90min also adds that Bayern Munich and Liverpool are showing interest in the England midfielder.
But while Liverpool are keen, Ben Jacobs reports that Phillips does not want to leave Etihad Stadium one year after joining. He endured an injury-hit first term at Manchester City after leaving Leeds United. Now, the 27-year-old wants to regain Guardiola’s support this season.
Another potential deadline day outgoing at Manchester City is the transfer of Tommy Doyle to Wolves. The Telegraph reports that the 21-year-old will head to Molineux to help smooth Nunes’ move the other way. He will join the Old Gold on loan with an option to buy for £5m.
The Citizens will also keep a 50% sell-on clause for Doyle, who Wolves had initially valued at £15m. He impressed on loan to Sheffield United in 2022/23 to help the Blades secure their promotion into the Premier League. Doyle offered three goals and four assists in 33 games.
Manchester City are also in talks to sell Cole Palmer to Chelsea during deadline day. Romano reports that discussions advanced quickly with the midfielder moving to Stamford Bridge for £40m, plus £5m in add-ons. Doku’s arrival at City from Stade Rennais threatened his place.
A transfer to the Bundesliga has also been on the cards for Stefan Ortega, per Sky Germany. Bayern Munich informed Manchester City of their interest in the goalkeeper whilst looking to sign a stand-in for Manuel Neuer. Ortega was even ready to ok a move to the Allianz Arena.
But Guardiola has shown little appetite to let the German leave Etihad Stadium. The Citizens would also have to replace the shot-stopper, who has turned down a new contract past June 2025. While Bayern Munich instead moved and signed Daniel Peretz from Maccabi Tel Aviv.