Manchester City’s quest for Premier League glory kicked off with a commanding 4-0 victory over Wolves in their 2025/26 season opener at Molineux, but manager Pep Guardiola has sounded an alarm about the club’s bloated squad. The legendary coach, frustrated by the need to leave key players out of matchday squads, declared the current roster size “not healthy” and insisted that players like goalkeeper Ederson and winger Savinho must approach him directly if they wish to leave. With the transfer window closing on September 1, 2025, and speculation swirling around potential exits, Guardiola’s call for a leaner squad has sparked intense debate about City’s future.
The season began with a statement performance, as Erling Haaland’s brace and debut goals from summer signings Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki showcased City’s attacking depth. New goalkeeper James Trafford also impressed, filling in for Ederson, who missed the match due to gastroenteritis. However, the absence of Savinho, sidelined by an injury from a friendly in Palermo, and other stars like Rodri and Phil Foden, highlighted the squad’s overcrowding. “It’s too much—too many people,” Guardiola lamented after the win, emphasizing that leaving players like Savinho, Mateo Kovacic, and Josko Gvardiol out of the squad disrupts team morale. “I don’t want to leave five or six players in the freezer. It’s not healthy. You cannot create a good vibe or atmosphere to compete,” he added, stressing the need for a tighter group to restore the “soul of the team.”
Ederson, City’s first-choice goalkeeper since 2017, has been the subject of persistent transfer rumors, with Turkish club Galatasaray reportedly interested. The 31-year-old Brazilian, instrumental in City’s six Premier League titles, has not formally requested a move, according to Guardiola. “Ederson didn’t come to me and say, ‘I want to leave, I have an offer,’” the manager stated, clarifying that Ederson’s absence against Wolves was due to illness, not transfer talks. Despite City’s interest in Paris Saint-Germain’s Gianluigi Donnarumma, Guardiola insisted, “Right now, Eddy is my No. 1,” though he left the door open for a potential exit if the player’s desire changes. “If they want to leave, they will knock on my door,” he said, underscoring that any departure must meet the club’s financial conditions.
Savinho, the 21-year-old Brazilian winger who joined City for $45 million last summer, is also at a crossroads. Tottenham Hotspur, reeling from Son Heung-min’s departure to LAFC and James Maddison’s ACL injury, have had multiple bids rejected, with City holding firm for a fee north of £50 million. Despite playing over 3,000 minutes in his debut season, Savinho’s struggle for a regular starting role amid competition from Cherki, Foden, and Jeremy Doku has fueled speculation. “I’m only concerned right now that Savinho will be with us for the rest of the season and hopefully for many, many years because, at 21, with the potential he has, he’s an extraordinary player,” Guardiola said, though he noted Savinho’s need to improve in the final third. The winger’s current injury, expected to sideline him for weeks, complicates matters, but Guardiola remains open to negotiations if Savinho pushes for a move. “Tottenham or any other club that wants a player should call the club, right?” he added.
Guardiola’s frustration stems from a broader squad overhaul. City’s £200 million January spending spree brought in Abdukodir Khusanov, Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez, and Vitor Reis, while Claudio Echeverri joined after a loan at River Plate. However, the departures of Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish, alongside James McAtee’s £30 million move to Nottingham Forest, signal a reshaping of the squad. “I don’t want to have 24, 25, 26 players when everyone is fit,” Guardiola warned, citing the emotional toll of excluding players like Savinho and Rico Lewis from the Bournemouth match earlier this year.
As City eye a seventh Premier League title in nine seasons, Guardiola’s demand for a leaner squad reflects his vision for a cohesive unit. With Rodrygo from Real Madrid and Xavi Simons as potential targets should Savinho depart, City are poised for a busy transfer window finale. “In the next two weeks, people will talk with players and agents to find a solution,” Guardiola concluded, leaving fans eager to see how the squad will evolve.
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