(Credit: Hasan Karim – Breaking Media)
Man City’s recruitment is likely to continue despite lavish spending throughout 2025 as Pep Guardiola’s side prepare for the Club World Cup.
That is the view of football finance expert Dan Plumley, who exclusively explained to Football Insider that the Sky Blues still “want one or two others coming in this summer”, even after signing nine players since January.
City endured their worst season of the Guardiola era last season, winning no major honours and finishing 13 points behind champions Liverpool.
Eager to right the wrongs of the 2024/25 campaign, the Sky Blues splashed out in January, signing Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt, whilst also adding Nico Gonzalez, Vitor Reis, Abdukodir Khusanov, and Juma Bah to their squad.
And with FIFA creating a new transfer window to accommodate for the revamped Club World Cup, the club have taken full advantage.
Rayan Cherki was signed from Lyon, Tijjani Rejinders joined City from AC Milan, Rayan Ait-Nouri has been recruited from Wolves, and Marcus Bettinelli will fill the gloves of the outgoing Scott Carson.
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Man City’s transfer business tipped to slow down
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, finance expert Plumley believes the club’s transfer business will slow down.
But with no PSR concerns, the senior lecturer from Sheffield Hallam University thinks City are still likely to add one or two more players this summer to replace outgoing stars such as Kevin De Bruyne.
He said: “I would also factor in that, as well as their summer signings, they’ve spent a chunky amount already in this short window; they did have a bit of a splurge in January as well.
“There’s an additional cost there that they need to be mindful of.
“I still don’t see any issues with PSR in that example, and I still think they could probably spend a little bit more if they wanted to.
“It’s really tricky to say how much more, but I don’t think they’ll have any issues with PSR because they have been profitable.
“Selling players kind of comes as the trade-off, and there’s another aspect of selling, where we’re also talking about the wage bill and the amortisation aspect of that as well, which does have an impact on the bottom line and PSR, so if you can get players out of the door as well, a transfer fee potentially, and wages off the books will be a bonus.
“Also, De Bruyne [has] move[d] on, and you probably want one or two others coming in this summer, so there might be a bit of a trade-off.
“I wouldn’t expect them to spend huge amounts over and above what they’ve done, but if they get a couple out of the door, then there might be a couple more coming in, probably after the Club World Cup.”
Jack Grealish’s Man City career is over amid Etihad upheaval
With Guardiola’s side aggressively overhauling their squad this summer, some of the team’s existing players will need to move on to make room for the incomers.
Pete O’Rourke revealed to Football Insider exclusively that Jack Grealish’s City career is “over”.
Saudi Pro League, Premier League, and European clubs are all in the race for the 29-year-old, who has struggled to find his best form since signing for the Sky Blues.
Grealish’s exit could also allow City to explore more options in the transfer market, should Guardiola want another player to compete with Cherki on the left-hand side.
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