As the 2025-26 Premier League season kicks into gear, Manchester City’s manager Pep Guardiola is spearheading a dramatic squad overhaul, driven by his vision for a leaner, more motivated team. Following a commanding 4-0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers in their season opener, where Erling Haaland bagged a brace and new signings Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki shone, Guardiola’s focus has shifted to trimming his bloated 30-player roster. With the transfer window nearing its close, the Catalan tactician has reportedly identified six players for potential departure: goalkeeper Ederson, defenders Nathan Ake and Joshua Wilson-Esbrand, midfielders Kalvin Phillips and Claudio Echeverri, and winger Savinho. This move aims to align with Guardiola’s ideal squad size of 23, a formula that fueled City’s title-winning campaign in 2023-24, while ensuring compliance with Premier League and UEFA homegrown quotas.
Guardiola’s philosophy is clear: a smaller squad fosters motivation and cohesion. “Too many people, too many players,” he remarked after the Wolves match, emphasizing that the current squad size is “not healthy” for maintaining a competitive edge. His frustration stems from a belief that players left on the sidelines grow apathetic, a sentiment he’s voiced repeatedly. “I’m not comfortable with leaving players at home,” he said last season, reflecting on the challenges of managing a large roster. Despite loan exits of Vitor Reis to Girona, Jack Grealish to Everton, and summer signing Sven Nyerre to Middlesbrough, City’s squad remains unwieldy, prompting urgent action to streamline before the September 1 deadline.
Ederson’s potential exit is the most eyebrow-raising. The Brazilian goalkeeper, a linchpin since 2017, was notably absent against Wolves, officially due to gastroenteritis, though skepticism lingers. “Gastroenteritis is the reason given when something else is going on,” former Barcelona player Xavi Hernandez once quipped, hinting at underlying issues. With Galatasaray expressing strong interest and Ederson’s shot-stopping form reportedly waning, City see an opportunity to promote academy graduate James Trafford, who impressed in the Wolves game, or pursue Paris Saint-Germain’s Gianluigi Donnarumma. “Right now, Eddy,” Guardiola said when asked about his No. 1 goalkeeper, but his openness to options suggests a shift is possible.
Savinho, the young Brazilian winger, is another surprise name on the list. Despite a £60 million bid from Tottenham Hotspur, which would triple City’s investment from his transfer from Troyes, Guardiola initially resisted. “Savinho will be with us for the rest of the season and hopefully many years,” he said, praising the 21-year-old’s potential. However, Savinho’s absence against Wolves, attributed to an injury from a friendly against Palermo, and his modest output of three goals last season have fueled speculation. A higher offer, potentially £80 million, could sway City to cash in, especially to balance their £180 million summer spending on Ait-Nouri, Reijnders, Cherki, Marmoush, and Trafford.
Kalvin Phillips’ departure seems almost certain. The midfielder, a high-profile signing in 2022, has struggled for minutes, with lackluster loan spells at West Ham and Ipswich Town. “We’re working on it,” Guardiola noted, signaling ongoing talks to secure a permanent move, possibly back to Leeds United for sentimental value. Nathan Ake, despite his versatility, faces competition from Josko Gvardiol’s solidified role in central defense, making him expendable among City’s surplus of center-backs. Youngster Joshua Wilson-Esbrand, unable to break through, and teenage prospect Claudio Echeverri, who may benefit from a loan to Girona, round out the list, with the latter’s exit aiding homegrown quota compliance.
This overhaul coincides with a transitional phase for City, marked by Hugo Viana’s arrival as sporting director and a disappointing 2024-25 season, including a Champions League exit to Real Madrid and a late-season slump. Guardiola, now under a two-year contract extension, is adapting his tactics with assistant coach Pep Lijnders, aiming for a more direct style. “Modern football is not positional. You have to ride the rhythm,” he said, signaling a new era. With Rodri’s gradual return from injury and young stars like Phil Foden meeting homegrown requirements, City’s squad reshaping is both strategic and financial, aiming to fund potential winter targets like Brighton’s Evan Ferguson while ensuring every player feels valued. As the transfer clock ticks, Guardiola’s vision for a streamlined, super-charged squad is taking shape, setting the stage for another title chase.
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