The upcoming summer transfer window is going to be big for Manchester City, with major changes needed to the playing squad after a pretty dire 2024/25 season so far....READ ORIGINAL & FULL CONTENT FROM SOURCE | READ ORIGINAL & FULL CONTENT FROM SOURCE...
It looks like the FA Cup is all that’s left to play for for Manchester City this season, with league leaders Liverpool already 20 points ahead of Pep Guardiola’s side in the Premier League table, despite Man City’s 2-0 win at Spurs last time out.
On the whole, the 2024/25 season will go down as one to forget for City. But it’ll also prove to be one that’s a turning point for the club with Man City set to undergo a major summer rebuild in a few month’s time.
There’s reports of several long-serving, key players about to leave the Etihad, with John Stones among those tipped to leave the club, along with names like Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish among others.
More and more names are being linked with the club and City could look elsewhere in the Premier League for reinforcements, potentially at Newcastle United.
Not only are City looking at Bruno Guimaraes at Newcastle United, but they’re also keeping tabs on full-back Tino Livramento. Recent reports state that Man City are keen on signing Livramento in the summer, who left Chelsea for St James’ Park in a £32million deal in the summer of 2023.
But Newcastle manager Eddie Howe isn’t best pleased by the rumours. Speaking to The Northern Echo ahead of the weekend, Howe was asked to address City’s rumoured interest in Livramento, to which he replied: “It goes without saying (that he’d want to keep Livramento).
“It’s frustrating for us that we’re consistently talking about players rumoured to be leaving. We want to go the other way and strengthen our group. We want to make the team stronger for the future rather than lose our best players.”
What Eddie Howe thinks about Pep Guardiola at Man City
Whilst Howe may be angry at Man City’s interest in Livramento and likely Guimaraes too, Howe hasn’t shied away in stating his admiration for Guardiola and the job he’s done in Manchester over the last nine years.
Speaking earlier this season, Howe gave his verdict on Guardiola, saying: “Pep [Guardiola] is someone I really admire. I admire how he plays the game, how he sees the game.
“For me, he is an innovator, he consistently takes the game to new ways. As a coach you’ve got to watch and understand his team and try to find solutions – it’s not easy.
“I think he’s really good for the English game, the British game, having him here makes the league better.
“Our challenge is to get closer and closer, or try and get closer and closer to teams like Manchester City, and they’re the benchmark.”
But City have certainly fallen this season. Guardiola needs to freshen up the side with some younger legs and Livramento could be a good addition, with the 22-year-old having shone for Newcastle in his 26 Premier League appearances this season.
Like with Guimaraes, though, Livramento won’t come cheap. He remains under contract at St James’ Park until 2028.
