This week’s Q&A takes a look at Manchester City’s plans for the summer transfer window with the transformation of the squad set to continue.

06:00, 13 Mar 2026

Manchester City looked to have put the disappointment of their 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest behind them as they produced a dominant display against Newcastle in the FA Cup last weekend. And then they travelled to Madrid.

A 3-0 defeat to Real Madrid leaves them needing a miracle in the second leg next week and before then they have another tough trip down to face West Ham in the Premier League on Saturday night. With so much going on at the club, we’ll be hosting weekly Q&A sessions with our chief City writer Simon Bajkowski.

The day of the week it comes out on may change depending on what City’s schedule looks like, but essentially this is your chance to get an answer on anything you want – simply pop your question here at any time of the week and Simon will pick them all up and wrap everything up in one place.

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This week we are looking at the summer transfer window as well as the state of play with some club greats. After three transfer windows that have transformed the squad, it looks like there will be more change ahead.

What are the potential signings Man City will make in the summer transfer window? Will we only have a midfielder and a right-back? Ali

What is the plan for this summer window mainly about Livramento, Elliot Anderson, winger situation and what is the future of Vitor Reis? Santanu Bhunia

These questions didn’t come in after the Champions League defeat to Real Madrid, but it feels like a natural place to start. After another mauling at the Bernabeu, let’s cheer ourselves up with some transfer talk about how the team could be better next season. That’s partly tongue in cheek, but we are getting towards the stage where City will want to be closing on exactly the summer business that they think they can do.

Elliot Anderson is a priority in a midfield that needs at least one more body in it. He won’t be cheap but has proven himself to be one of the most reliable Premier League performers in a Forest side that are one of the most volatile in the division, and his goal at the Etihad recently topped off another excellent performance. City face competition for him, and United will fancy their chances if they can promise Champions League football, but City will be confident they can land him. Other factors will determine if another midfielder is needed.

The next obvious position is right-back, although it is not clear that they will definitely sign one. They have certainly looked at a few players in the position, in the younger age bracket so not coming in as first-choice, but then they did that last summer and ultimately opted against. Links with Newcastle’s Tino Livramento have again been dismissed, which is perhaps another indicator that City aren’t convinced about spending a lot of money on the role (although Livramento’s injury record has also been poor over the last two seasons).

Everyone is happier with Matheus Nunes at right-back now he himself has committed to the position, and Guardiola was happy enough with Abdukodir Khusanov there to use him at the Bernabeu. Vitor Reis is pushing for a return to Manchester with his performances at Girona and Guardiola may decide that having more centre-backs that can be shifted out wide is better than signing a specialist who will not be as adept covering the middle.

Any word of a Bernie 1-year extension? E

Still nothing. It’s not impossible, and it has happened before with other players where they have come to an agreement late in the year to stay for another campaign. But it is not looking any more likely than it has done all season. Silva wanted to stay this season and wants to leave his mark as captain, but he seems happy enough with leaving the club in a good place again without needing another haul of trophies before he goes off to pursue another challenge while he still has plenty to offer.

How much longer are you staying Pep? Another 10yrs please. Norman

This also came in before the Champions League game, and there are more fans who are open to him leaving at the end of the season after that 3-0 defeat. That won’t be the way the board see it though, who still regard Guardiola as the best man for the job. Given City entered March alive in four competitions, they would probably argue that it has already been a successful season – particularly given last year and the changes over the last three transfer windows – regardless of whether City win anything or not. That may not be how everyone sees it, but there is a valid point in there.

Guardiola’s interview before the Madrid game with TNT leaned more into an exit at the end of the season as he reminisced about the grounds that he will miss when he leaves. There were also some people who took his very attacking lineup at the Bernabeu to be an attempt to claim one final emphatic victory on what could be his last time in the dugout at the ground of Barcelona’s most bitter rivals. Guardiola knows, though, that he is nearing the end, even if he stays another year and will also be well aware of the speculation surrounding his future, so can choose to lean into it when he wants. He certainly isn’t being as reflective and retrospective as he was last season amid City’s struggles.

Hello, Simon! There are a lot of rumours about Rodri potentially leaving for Real Madrid. The latest news about his contract was during the summer transfer window. My question is: what is the current situation with his contract? Is there a chance he will extend his contract or will he leave for a new challenge? He is my favourite player on the team, so I am very concerned about his future. Ulugbek

Hi Ulugbek, Rodri is an interesting one – not least because he is coveted by Real president Florentino Perez, a man who has been used to getting what he wants for decades. A new City contract has not been seen as urgent this season while the player has been working his way back from injury, but the club are now relying on banking the goodwill they feel they have to get Rodri to extend.

They will not want his deal to go far into the final 12 months next season and if they are to lose him will want a substantial fee given the support and patience that he has had around his injury problems. The World Cup is another potential complication though with Rodri spending a big chunk of the summer with teammates from Spain, and he will also have to weigh up how long he can thrive in a Premier League that is increasingly physical. I wouldn’t say City are worried about losing Rodri, but the longer it goes without any significant breakthroughs in contract talks the doubts may start to creep in.

Bernardo Silva spoke after Manchester City were beaten by Real Madrid in the Champions League last-16 first leg

Bernardo Silva felt Manchester City lost control of the contest as they slumped to defeat by Real Madrid in the Champions League.

The Blues were undone by a Fedi Valverde first-half hat-trick to lose 3-0 and although Gianluigi Donnarumma kept out a Vini Jr penalty after the break, City could not find a way back into the contest to leave them a mountain to climb in Tuesday’s Etihad return.

Both Bernardo and boss Pep Guardiola didn’t feel City’s performance was a particularly poor one but the skipper admitted it was a deflating result.

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“It is quite frustrating [we didn’t score], even though we believe it is still possible because in football a lot of things can happen, at half-time we were saying, ‘the situation is bad’ there were a lot of things that shouldn’t have happened but with one goal you are in the tie,” said Bernardo.

“At 3-0 it makes it a bit more difficult. Now it feels really bad, now it feels really dark. Tomorrow is another day and for sure next week we will go to the game thinking we have a chance.

“Right now is the moment to reflect and see what we didn’t do right. Then next week when we are preparing we will be hopeful we can do something.”

On the game itself, the City skipper added: “It is difficult to speak about it because I would need to watch it again. My feeling on the pitch was that we started the game well.

“The environment we could not control and I think my team let the emotions change the game. We felt comfortable and were finding the right spaces but after conceding the first one we lost completely the control, we stopped controlling transitions and second balls. When you play against Real Madrid with the quality they have you pay the price.

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“It is a tough stadium to play at. We are used to playing at these stadiums because playing at Anfield and St James’ Park is very tough.

“You need to go through these moments to become better and today was just a learning game for the whole team.”

Both Marcus Rashford and Harry Kane have been linked with summer moves to Barcelona – here’s how they could line-up next season

Barcelona could have a distinctly English feel next season, with both Marcus Rashford and Harry Kane being linked with transfer to the Camp Nou.

Rashford, currently on loan at the Spanish side from Manchester United, is pushing for a permanent deal, while Kane’s future remains uncertain, with his Bayern Munich contract due to expire in just over a year.

The idea of both England internationals playing in Catalonia is plausible, leaving Barcelona coach Hansi Flick with some major decisions regarding squad planning this summer.

Rashford has expressed his desire to remain at Barcelona beyond the current season – and he increasingly looks likely to. Reports suggest the La Liga club are prepared to trigger the £26million buyout clause in Rashford’s contract, a sum that United have refused to lower.

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Over recent months, the two sides have discussed terms to make a permanent transfer feasible, following Rashford’s impressive performances in Spain. The 28-year-old has scored 10 goals and provided 13 assists in 34 matches this season, leaving Barcelona highly satisfied with his contributions.

In a recent interview with SPORT, Rashford said: “Of course, what I want is to stay at Barca. It’s an end goal, but it’s not the reason why I’m training hard and giving it my best.”

Kane’s long-term situation, meanwhile, is becoming more uncertain. By season’s end, he will have just 12 months left on his Bayern contract – a similar scenario that forced Tottenham to sell the striker in 2023 to prevent losing him for free a year later.

Barcelona have emerged as a likely option for the England captain, especially as star forward Robert Lewandowski nears his 38th birthday and the end of his Camp Nou contract, which ends this season. The Poland international is still scoring goals, but Barcelona are facing a ‘stick or twist’ decision regarding his future.

Should they allow Lewandowski’s contract to run out, they would need a proven, ready-to-go replacement – and Kane fits that profile perfectly, having consistently found the net in both England and Germany.

However, if a summer deal for Kane cannot be completed, the club could contemplate offering Lewandowski a last-minute contract extension. Kane recently downplayed speculation over a move, saying he is “very happy” in Bavaria.

“I haven’t heard anything about it,” Kane said when asked about links to Barca. “My father and brother handle everything, but they haven’t said anything to me. As I’ve already said, I’m very happy here at Bayern. I’m focused on this season and my time at Bayern. I take it as a compliment.”

Kane has been in remarkable form this term, scoring 43 goals in 36 appearances. Negotiations for a contract renewal are reportedly ongoing, but if Bayern stumble, Barcelona could act to bring the 32-year-old to Spain.

A transfer to the Camp Nou would make Kane only the third English player to represent the Blaugrana in the last 100 years. Rashford became the second earlier this season, following Gary Lineker, who netted 52 goals in 138 games between 1986 and 1989.

Beyond Kane, Barcelona have been linked with Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez. The former Manchester City player, who scored 29 goals across all competitions last season, is said to be open to a move. Yet prying him away from Atleti will be expensive, with reports suggesting a bid of over £80m might be necessary to secure his transfer.

They’re also in the market for defensive reinforcements, with Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni high on their wish list. The centre back, who has been linked with several Premier League clubs, is expected to command a hefty fee, with sources suggesting Inter would demand upwards of £70m.

A move for Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck, however, might be more realistic – particularly if Barcelona are shelling out £80m+ for Alvarez. The German defender could be available for as little as £20–30m, with his contract set to expire at the end of next season.

Elsewhere, Barcelona are exploring another contract situation. Bernardo Silva’s deal with Manchester City expires this summer and the Catalan club have long admired the Portugal international. With all that in mind, here’s how Barcelona could line-up next season:

Joan Garcia (GK), Jules Kounde (RB), Pau Cubarsi (CB), Nico Schlotterbeck (CB), Alejandro Balde (LB), Pedri (CM), Frenkie de Jong (CM), Bernardo Silva (CM), Marcus Rashford (LW), Julian Alvarez (CF), Lamine Yamal (LW)

Our regular Q&A this week looks at Manchester City’s present danger from set-pieces, and the parts of Bernardo Silva, Rico Lewis and Nico O’Reilly in the club’s summer business

06:00, 26 Feb 2026

There’s no shortage of Manchester City topics to discuss as Pep Guardiola’s men look to compete in four competitions this season after the disappointment of last year. We’ve got every game and press conference covered for you but we also know that there is so much more going on around that.

That’s why we are holding regular Q&A sessions with our chief City writer Simon Bajkowski. The day of the week it comes out on may change depending on what City’s schedule looks like, but essentially this is your chance to get an answer on anything you want – simply pop your question here at any time of the week and Simon will pick them all up and wrap everything up in one place.

This week has questions on whether Nico O’Reilly will change City’s summer transfer business, the futures of Bernardo Silva, Rico Lewis, and Pep Guardiola. There’s also a look at set-pieces and what City can expect until the end of the season.

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Hi Simon. Since De Bruyne’s departure, the set-piece responsibilities seem to be shared more, and it feels like the designated taker changes from game to game. What is the current pecking order for set-piece takers in the squad? Who do you think is delivering the most accurate balls at the moment? And who do you expect to score the team’s first direct free-kick goal this season? TJ

Hi TJ, I’ll start with the last question first because it’s easier for me to answer as a punt. I’d expect the first direct free-kick to be scored by either Rayan Cherki or Omar Marmoush, for reasons that are hopefully obvious to everyone. Now for the more difficult bit…

It felt to me like City had a very slow start with attacking set-pieces this season, then hit their purple patch around November and December with usually inswinging corners from Phil Foden that Josko Gvardiol could get on the end of – either to direct at goal or head across for a teammate. There has also been some success with using Erling Haaland to flick on.

However, with Gvardiol injured and Foden out of form to the point he isn’t getting picked it feels like City haven’t quite had the rhythm. They have Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders that can bend balls in from either side but they don’t feel particularly dangerous from set-pieces at the moment.

Who do you think will replace Pep when he finally leaves City? I am very curious at this point. JD

You, me, and I think everybody else. We are firmly into Sir Alex Ferguson territory whereby when Guardiola leaves it is going to be pretty much impossible for the next man to live up to what has gone before him. City would like to think they are much better set up than United were in 2013, but it is still going to be interesting to see which direction City go in.

I may be wrong but I think they’re open to going in a number of ways when Guardiola leaves that will be decided in no small part by when the manager does indeed go. If he opts to leave this summer, the list of candidates and their placing won’t be the same as the shortlist if it is 2027 when City are hiring. Vincent Kompany would be the most popular pick, but he may be out of reach. Luis Enrique, Andoni Iraola, Enzo Maresca, Thomas Tuchel and Roberto De Zerbi have all caught the eye.

This may be Bernardo Silva’s last season with Manchester City. My question is: would the club want to extend his contract if they had the opportunity? Ulugbek

The answer is yes, yes, and yes again, Ulugbek. Silva looked a beaten man last season as he fell down amid everyone else falling around him, but he has been rejuvenated and his form in recent months has been terrific.

He has obvious limitations in attack but he knows what Guardiola wants in a game better than anyone else on the team and has shown this season that he can still cut it at the highest level; the equaliser at Anfield and ball through for the penalty showed that, with Guardiola later describing him as irreplaceable in the system that is working at the moment.

He’s not expected to stay but City will do everything they can to stop him from leaving until he steps through the exit door.

Nico O’Reilly has recently delivered impressive performances in the midfield role. Amid ongoing discussions regarding a potential successor to Bernardo Silva, many supporters have voiced their preference for Elliot Anderson as a candidate. However, O’Reilly’s strong displays in midfield may reduce the likelihood of Anderson’s arrival. Even so, questions remain as to whether Manchester City still consider Anderson a viable option and if he has been included on the club’s transfer shortlist. yjj

Anderson is on the shortlist, and City will look to sign him this summer. After the signings of Semenyo and Guehi have instantly paid off, that will give even more encouragement to the idea of signing proven Premier League potential. Bernardo Silva is likely to leave and Mateo Kovacic and Rico Lewis could also go, so it is not a problem keeping O’Reilly in the midfield and adding Anderson as well.

City know they will face competition for him though, with United also beginning to fancy their chances as they grow more confident of earning a return to the Champions League for next season. If the price for Anderson is pushed up, that could cause City to question whether they still want to commit or look elsewhere and will be a test for new(ish) sporting director Hugo Viana.

Do you reckon Rico is gone in the summer? Noah S

An interesting question Noah, for one of the more interesting players in the squad. I believe Guardiola when he says that he loves the way Lewis plays and what he brings to the team, but at the same time the midfielder is barely getting a kick. The increase in physicality this year and scrums that have formed for every set-piece really don’t suit Lewis and Oscar Bobb – a tricky winger – has been effectively replaced by a much more physical specimen in Antoine Semenyo.

I can’t think Lewis will want another season with such limited game time, but if Bernardo Silva leaves that could open a route into the team for him – particularly if the rules are changed to stop the set-piece scrums next season. I’d say he is probably more likely to stay than go at the minute, but things can quickly change.

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What is your expectation for Manchester City this season? Noah S

We are getting into the sharp end of the season and City have a chance of winning four trophies, which is an achievement in itself. I think they will end up with at least one because they are good enough, although I’m not sure which it will be and it feels like Arsenal have an advantage for the Carabao Cup final with a much nicer schedule in the fortnight before it.

The Champions League will depend on who City draw in the last-16 but they will be unburdened in the competition because they are not seen as the big favourites that they had been before last season. The FA Cup feels like the competition City enjoy the most, but they are also looking dangerous in the Premier League. Their injuries are disappearing and if they can keep that for the next two months they should be in a very good place.

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Manchester City picked up a major victory on Saturday night to keep the pressure firmly on Arsenal in the title race

16:59, 23 Feb 2026

Manchester City showed a different side to their game on Saturday as they beat Newcastle United and kept pace with Arsenal. The Blues were steely in defence as Eddie Howe’s team pushed for an equaliser.

City may have been fortunate to see Dan Burn’s goal chalked off but they deserved the three points. It was not only Rayan Ait-Nouri, Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, Marc Guehi and, later, Abdukodir Khusanov defending, it was a team effort. With this in mind, MEN Sport has taken a look at four defensive tactics City used to win the game.

Erling Haaland

It speaks volumes that Haaland was singled out by Pep Guardiola for his defensive work, rather than his offensive play. “I’m not a big fan to put Erling to defend, but he helped us, and I know after that how the people hug him and celebrate him and say they’re grateful to help us because Newcastle allowed us to do that,” the City boss said.

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The Norwegian joined the defence for set pieces to deal with the aerial threats of Burn, Nick Woltemade and Malick Thiaw. And he showed the same intensity in this task as he does in the opposition box.

At one stage, you could see Haaland bouncing from side to side as he anticipated the cross coming in. The striker showed he is more than just a source of goals and silenced those who thought otherwise.

Duo helping

City don’t just have Haaland helping their defence, Omar Marmoush and Antoine Semenyo also joined the effort. While neither man can clear an aerial delivery like Haaland, they both worked hard to keep the lead intact.

Both forwards were quick to track back and follow the wingers when Newcastle broke away. This can often go unnoticed but the duo’s pace halted some promising counters and allowed the defence to recover their line.

The one time they didn’t track back quick enough, Anthony Gordon forced a good save from Gianluigi Donnarumma so it’s clear how important defending from the front is.

Vintage Rodri

There’s a reason City have been weaker when Rodri is out of the team. He provides protection to the defence unlike anyone else in this squad.

We have associated the Spaniard with his brilliant passing range and crunching tackles but on Saturday, his aerial ability started the move for Nico O’Reilly’s opener. He won the header from Newcastle’s long ball which sparked the City counter.

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He may go about his work unassumingly but Rodri is the best defensive midfielder in the world because he can do everything. On Saturday, he used one of the strings on his bow to devastating effect.

Bernardo’s work rate

Guardiola will be gutted when Bernardo Silva leaves because there are few players who have his engine. In the second half, the captain could be found in both boxes helping his team.

In the defensive third, he became the fifth body if Rodri was caught further up the pitch. Bernardo won’t class himself as an excellent defender, but his presence in the box suffocated options – as shown when Anthony Elanga looked up to find nobody free in the area thanks to Bernardo.

This hesitation allowed Ait-Nouri to barge Elanga out of play. It was not an evening when Bernardo stole the show up front but his work rate remains a huge asset for the Blues.

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Manchester City star Bernardo Silva avoided a red card against Newcastle but moved closer to the yellow card threshold in the Premier League

Bernardo Silva was considered fortunate by some not to earn a ban for his performance against Newcastle. In particular, flying into a challenge with Dan Burn while already on a yellow was seen as a potential sending off offence and Eddie Howe was even asked about it in his press conference after the game..

Referee Thomas Bramall did not see it that way, to the relief no doubt of Pep Guardiola. Silva continues to be an integral player in the manager’s squad as one of the most experienced, both as a leader and an essential piece of a new system with two up front that has been working for the Blues in recent weeks.

However, while Silva escaped punishment on Saturday, the yellow card he picked up against Newcastle could end up being more costly than a red would have been. His booking against Newcastle was his third in the last three league games and his eighth of the season in the Premier League.

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That moves him worryingly close to the threshold for a ban; if he picks up two more yellow cards over the next five league games he will be given a two match ban. Unless the Crystal Palace game is rescheduled before any of them, Silva will have to avoid two bookings from games with Leeds, Forest, West Ham, Chelsea, and Arsenal.

The Arsenal game is obvious the biggest worry around a potential suspension. While City have the League Cup final and at least one more FA Cup game coming up, any suspension will only apply to Premier League games and so should Silva pick up a tenth booking in the league against West Ham or Chelsea he will, as it stands, be ruled out of the Arsenal game.

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Silva is the only player the Guardiola really has to worry about passing the threshold of yellow cards. Nico Gonzalez is next on six but has been out of the team recently, while Gianluigi Donnarumma has tempered his early frustration and only has five. Silva will have to follow suit and stay out of trouble if he wants to remain eligible to play in the potential title decider against Arsenal.

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Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva could leave the Etihad Stadium when his contract expires this summer.

Pep Guardiola is never short of praise for his Manchester City players. Win, lose or draw, Guardiola is the biggest cheerleader for this squad. However, there is one star who arguably receives more praise than most.

Captain Bernardo Silva moved to City in 2017 and quickly became a fan favourite. Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva may have stolen the midfield headlines but Bernardo’s quality has never been lost on Guardiola. “At the end we were guided by our incredible player, one of the best ever to play or train – our captain Bernardo,” the City head coach said after the Liverpool win.

“We follow him, I follow him too. He puts the team in front of himself. He does things through his own example. Everybody follows him, me the first. He scored the first one from the Erling [Haaland] assist, and made the assist for Matheus [Nunes] for the penalty.”

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Guardiola would love nothing more than for Bernardo to sign a new contract at City. The captain has never been afraid to discuss his future and has looked set to depart on a number of occasions.

Bernardo has been ever-present this season and his versatility is a precious quality for any team. “[It is] so important,” Guardiola replied in 2023 when asked about versatile players. “That helps us to have a bigger and a longer squad.

“We have players like Bernardo and Phil [Foden] who can play in three or four different positions if we need it.”

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Antoine Semenyo was the in-demand forward ahead of this season’s January transfer window and you can see why. The Ghana international can play on the left, right or down the middle if needed.

City won that transfer battle and there are plenty more versatile players in their squad.

Nico O’Reilly graduated from the academy last season. He made nine appearances in the second half of the Premier League season, announcing himself at this level. But this season he has really started to flourish.

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After new signing Rayan Ait-Nouri picked up an injury, O’Reilly took his chance. Despite splashing more than £36m on Ait-Nouri, Guardiola stuck with the youngster.

When Ait-Nouri rediscovered his form, O’Reilly was moved into midfield – arguably the strongest area in the City squad. Has that fazed him? Absolutely not.

O’Reilly took his brace superbly against Newcastle and he is guaranteed to start at Leeds next weekend. What’s even more impressive is that he only turns 21 next month.

It is also worth remembering he has played just three senior matches in the midfield role, although he did progress through the age groups as a midfielder.

His versatility means he is as impressive at left-back as he is in midfield. Guardiola began his post-Newcastle press conference by praising former City star James Milner after he surpassed the record for the most Premier League appearances of all time. 203 of those matches came for the Blues and while it is far too early to say whether O’Reilly will enjoy similar longevity, his recent form makes the prospect of replacing Bernardo seem a little less daunting than it once did.

O’Reilly will only get better the more matches he plays. Guardiola knows he has a real player on his hands.