Manu Akanji is hoping for a reunion with some Manchester City teammates - so he can knock them and England out of the Euros.
20.06.2024 - 12:09 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
When Manchester City begin their 2024/25 season at Wembley against Manchester United on August 10, it will kick-start a campaign that could last 11 months.
By the time City hope to be in the FIFA Club World Cup final on July 13 2025, they could have played 75 games over the campaign, taking them all over England and Europe, as well as an intense month in the United States next summer.
Pep Guardiola could even be bidding farewell to City after the Club World Cup - his contract up at the end of June - and the coming season could be the most intense yet. There is an expanded Champions League, a Premier League fixture list that will test every bit of his experience, and three other cups to try and win along the way.
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So what Guardiola desperately needs is a squad capable of navigating 70 games plus if needed. He will require a handful of capable academy players to step up and cover, as well as new signings to complement a side looking for a fifth league title in a row.
That is all the more pressing given the majority of his squad will have spent the summer representing their countries. It's feasible that between August 2023 and June 2026, some players may only have had a month off at best.
At present, City have a 21-man squad - one that showed signs of flagging towards the end of a long season. Some loanees may return if clubs aren't found, while Troyes winger Savio is expected to add competition in attack, but there is little noise around any major signings.
In fact, the speculation has centred more on departures. Kevin De Bruyne,
Manu Akanji is hoping for a reunion with some Manchester City teammates - so he can knock them and England out of the Euros.
The banlieues of Paris, the street footballers in Sao Paulo, the academy talent factories in Lisbon - all of them production lines for a steady flow of talent - but to the list can be added a small triangle just south of Manchester that might be called upon to help rescue England's Euro 2024 campaign in Germany tonight.
The Premier League could cite Swindon Town’s enforced top-flight relegation in 1990 as a legal benchmark for Manchester City’s punishment should they be found guilty of finance breaches, it has been claimed.
Phil Foden has jetted back to Germany after the birth of his third child with girlfriend Rebecca Cooke, having left the England camp earlier this week.
After such a slow start to the transfer window, surely the deals will go from a trickle to a flood once Euro 2024 is over. And when the activity does pick up, Manchester City will need to be on the right side of each transfer they are involved in.
Manchester City star Phil Foden has left the England Euro 2024 squad to return to the UK and be present for the birth of his third child with girlfriend Rebecca Cooke.
Manchester City star Phil Foden has left England's Euro 2024 camp and returned to the UK due to a "pressing family matter".
Manchester City have work to do in the transfer window. It's been a slow start with Euro 2024 a distraction, among other things, but there is still plenty time.
Manchester City are - like almost every other club - yet to make a signing in the summer transfer window.
Alan Shearer commented on England's performance against Denmark, raising questions about John Stones and Phil Foden's roles in the team.
Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong is reportedly keen on signing for Manchester City this summer.
Wes Brown has suggested Phil Foden should emulate Wayne Rooney's adaptability to become an indispensable player for England.
Micah Richards has admitted that Phil Foden's performances for England have made him sad.
Phil Foden insists England showed a different side to their game during their much-criticised performance vs Serbia as he defended his own contribution in the Euro 2024 opener.
Pep Guardiola has tipped Ilkay Gundogan to make a great manager as the Manchester City great looks to lead his national team to major success on home turf.
Manchester City are five weeks from their first pre-season friendly, and eight from the 2024/25 season opener at Wembley against Manchester United in the Community Shield.
'Gareth Southgate's barmy army' sang a man wearing a vintage 1990 England shirt, with a flag of St George draped around his neck, as he walked arm-in-arm with his pal through the huge swinging doors.
Manchester City have reportedly made an enquiry for RB Leipzig midfielder Daniel Olmo.
The football season continues this summer for dozens of Manchester City and United players at Euro 2024.
There was a brief flurry of excitement on social media on Wednesday night as a suggestion emerged of a submitted offer for Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes from Manchester City.