What Comes Next for Man City? De Bruyne Successor, Full-Back Fixes & a Grealish Exit on the Horizon

A wake-up call after City quietest summer

For the first time in nearly a decade, Manchester City find themselves at a crossroads. Last summer’s transfer window was unusually quiet by the club’s lofty standards, and Pep Guardiola’s decision to put faith in the old guard backfired in spectacular fashion. The club only brought in Savinho for £20 million while re-signing Ilkay Gundogan on a free, and the cost of that conservative approach quickly became apparent.

City didn’t just fail to defend their Premier League crown—they fell well off the pace, finishing third with 71 points, the lowest tally in Guardiola’s entire managerial career. Their Champions League run ended prematurely, they exited domestic cups without silverware, and for the first time since 2016-17, they ended a season without a major trophy.

Now, Pep and chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak both appear to have accepted that changes are overdue. “We probably should have been more aggressive,” Khaldoon said last week. “We didn’t do that and it ended up costing us.”

That long-overdue overhaul started in January, with a £180m winter spend on Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez, Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis. But that was only the beginning. With two summer transfer windows on the horizon—one closing before the Club World Cup on June 10, and a second stretching to September 1—City must act decisively.

Here’s where the focus lies for Guardiola and new sporting director Hugo Viana as they look to reshape the squad and reclaim the Premier League crown.

Reinforcements at full-back are long overdue

A wake-up call after City quietest summer

Back in 2017, Guardiola convinced City to splash out £130m on full-backs. Eight years on, the situation is just as desperate. The club needs both a right- and left-back to shore up a backline that looked increasingly makeshift last season.

Kyle Walker’s decline was painful to watch before he was loaned to AC Milan in January. There’s little chance he’ll be reintegrated. Rico Lewis is promising, but he’s looking more and more like a central midfielder than a long-term right-back solution. That left Guardiola turning to Matheus Nunes—a midfielder by trade—as his right-sided defender for much of the campaign.

At left-back, Nathan Ake’s persistent injury issues and Josko Gvardiol’s move to central defence left the door open for young Nico O’Reilly, who impressed but remains raw and inexperienced—not to mention he’s naturally a midfielder.

City appear to be closing in on Wolves’ Rayan Ait-Nouri, who had a breakout season with 11 goal contributions. If that deal gets done, the next move must be to identify and secure a natural right-back to restore balance and energy to the flanks.

A new No.1 keeper to take over between the posts

Manchester City FC v AFC Bournemouth – Premier League

Neither of City’s goalkeepers covered themselves in glory last season. Ederson, who had interest from Saudi Arabia last summer, was convinced to stay but struggled with consistency. Despite chipping in with four assists, his primary job—keeping the ball out—wasn’t up to standard, especially in Europe.

Stefan Ortega got his chances but failed to build on his reputation from the previous season. Guardiola’s furious touchline reaction after Ortega conceded a late equaliser to Brentford summed up the frustration.

Both keepers are entering the final year of their contracts, and now is the perfect time to make a bold move. Diogo Costa is the dream target—a modern, commanding keeper who leads Porto with authority—but his price tag could be a hurdle. Espanyol’s Joan Garcia is a more attainable alternative and has a €25m release clause. A fresh face in goal is vital.

The impossible task: replacing Kevin De Bruyne

The impossible task: replacing Kevin De Bruyne

How do you replace a player like Kevin De Bruyne? You don’t, really. But that doesn’t mean you can avoid trying.

De Bruyne’s departure leaves an enormous creative void. For years, he’s been the brain of the team, capable of unlocking defences with a single pass, delivering when it mattered most, and setting the tempo for Guardiola’s system.

City looked into Florian Wirtz, the jewel of Bayer Leverkusen, but balked at the escalating price. Morgan Gibbs-White has his admirers at the Etihad, while Rayan Cherki of Lyon has emerged as a likely option. But none carry the proven pedigree or leadership of De Bruyne.

Still, with the Belgian moving on, City must bring in a dynamic, creative midfielder who can evolve into a new focal point for the attack. Whoever arrives may not reach KDB’s level straight away—if ever—but the club needs someone willing to try.

An ageing midfield needs more energy

Bernardo Silva Manchester City 2024-25

Bernardo Silva made headlines in March after City’s FA Cup win at Bournemouth, defending the squad against accusations of age and decline. “I’m 30. Kovacic is 30,” he protested. “You’re not talking about guys that are 36.”

His point was fair, but the underlying concern was also valid. City’s midfield did look tired. The legs that once ran over opponents week after week now looked heavy. With Ilkay Gundogan at 34, De Bruyne at 33, and Jack Grealish turning 30, the engine room lost its zip.

City’s January signings were a clear response. Gonzalez (22), Khusanov (20), and Reis (18) injected much-needed youth, and Tijjani Reijnders—currently in talks to join—would continue that trend. More midfield signings are likely, especially with Bernardo linked with a summer departure and Kovacic battling fitness issues.

Grealish among those who may need to go

Real Madrid C.F. v Manchester City – UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg

Injuries didn’t just interrupt City’s momentum—they completely derailed their campaign. Guardiola had seen enough by the spring and publicly criticised several of his players for their inability to stay fit. He singled out Ake and John Stones but could just as easily have included Grealish and Manuel Akanji.

Grealish, once seen as the natural successor to Raheem Sterling’s role, now looks like a player caught in limbo. A persistent injury in February cost him a key stretch of the season, and his impact since joining hasn’t ever truly lived up to the £100m price tag.

A summer move could suit both parties. Grealish needs a fresh start. City need reliability, especially from players occupying wide positions.

Add a winger who can finish

Doku and Savinho are electric. Their pace, flair and unpredictability made them fun to watch in flashes last season, but what they lacked—goals—hurt the team. Between them, they scored just four league goals, and Savinho only managed one.

Omar Marmoush helped ease the pressure on Erling Haaland by contributing in the final third, but he often operated in a deeper role. For City to reach the attacking levels of the Mahrez-Sterling-Sane era, they need a wide player who delivers double figures.

Rodrygo, who famously helped knock City out of the Champions League in 2022, would be the ideal signing if Real Madrid decide to move him on following Kylian Mbappe’s arrival. He scores goals, plays with intensity, and already knows what it’s like to perform on the biggest stage.

Final thoughts: ruthless and ready to rebuild

This summer might not carry the glitz of City’s early Guardiola years, but it could be just as important. The squad that won four Premier League titles in a row is ageing, tired, and—for the first time in years—beatable.

Guardiola knows it. Khaldoon knows it. The rebuild has already started, but the next three months will determine whether City can bounce back and reclaim their dominance—or whether this is the start of a new chapter without them at the top.

Big decisions are coming, and they can’t afford to get them wrong this time.