Manchester City pre-season preparations have shown transfer stance on £60m deal

Less than a week into Manchester City’s pre-season tour of the USA, and the club’s transfer plans seem much clearer.

With no opportunity for the media to speak to Pep Guardiola for two months, it’s not a surprise that speculation ran wild on potential incomings and outgoings at the Etihad. But since City flew out to America, Guardiola has already clarified the situations surrounding Kevin De Bruyne and James McAtee.

The Catalan also explained that significant arrivals look unlikely, while Rico Lewis and McAtee expressed their desire to remain at the club, and Oscar Bobb spoke about being patient for his opportunity. The only real uncertainty now lies in the futures of Ederson and Julian Alvarez.

The latter is being linked with a move to Atletico Madrid and Guardiola will most likely be asked about the Argentinian’s future when he addresses the media next. As for Ederson, his manager has admitted the goalkeeper’s future remains uncertain. Aside from that, things look relatively settled for City ahead of a fifth consecutive campaign in which they will begin as defending champions.

But confirmation that De Bruyne is set to remain is perhaps the biggest takeaway from a week of big headlines. That McAtee is also keen on sticking around this season is another plus, and means the Premier League champions are well stocked in the attacking midfield areas, with Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva and Matheus Nunes also options.

It’s why a move for Eberechi Eze looks unlikely this summer. Reports last week suggested that the England international is a transfer target for City, especially given he has a release clause of £60m in his contract.

In this market, for an English, attack-minded 26-year-old, that feels like a price worth matching. But failing to meet release clauses has been a theme of City’s transfer window, having previously opted against bidding for Bruno Guimaraes and Dani Olmo, who were available for £100m and £51m respectively earlier this summer.

New Juventus signing Douglas Luiz was another potential addition that ticked plenty of boxes for City, while Joshua Kimmich also seems to address certain shortcomings in Guardiola’s squad - namely, cover at right-back and holding midfield. Yet, at this stage of summer, it’s a deal the Blues haven’t pressed ahead with.

As for Eze, he is a player that City do admire, and they considered bidding for the Crystal Palace star last summer. Instead, Etihad officials plumped for Nunes at Wolverhampton Wanderers, a decision that, in hindsight, the club may regret.

But suggestions that Eze will arrive this summer as the heir apparent to De Bruyne are misguided. For a start, the Belgian’s long-term successor is already a City player, and how Guardiola incorporates both Foden and De Bruyne into his side is one of the more intriguing conundrums ahead of the new term.

After a stellar 2023/24 campaign, it’s difficult to imagine Foden not playing a central role this season, yet where De Bruyne - let alone McAtee - fits into that system is puzzling. Guardiola is spoilt for choice in this area - it’s unlikely he’ll be dipping into the transfer market to add extra options.