David Ornstein confirms Manchester City transfer work ‘being done behind the scenes’ with 2025 activity expected | OneFootball

Manchester City will conduct transfer activity across the next two markets as part of a major overhaul of their first-team squad, it has been reliably reported.

Pep Guardiola and his reigning Premier League champions have endured significant problems throughout the ongoing campaign, and heightened across their last 14 matches in all competitions.

Following on from long-term injuries sustained by Oscar Bobb and Rodri during the early stages of the season, City have found themselves without all of their central defenders at one stage, and a number of midfield prospects at other moments.

Injury absences combined with poor form, lack of consistency in line-up selections, illness, and difficulty of opponents saw City take on just one win in 13 matches at one stage this winter, with their second victory in 14 matches coming this weekend.

And as a new year approaches, with the feeling being that the Manchester City hierarchy are accepting of a new generation of players being required for Pep Guardiola, it has now been reliably detailed that a number of signings are being lined up for 2025.

That is according to the information of The Athletic’s David Ornstein, who states that City are expected to be ‘active’ in the upcoming January transfer market, and between the winter and summer windows of 2025, they intend to strengthen in defence, midfield, and attack.

It is further revealed that work is already being done behind the scenes and ‘conversations are now taking place’ with clubs and player representatives, with Txiki Begiristain continuing to lead the process, alongside Pep Guardiola and other relevant personnel.

For now, it remains to be seen who Manchester City will deem available to target during the notoriously difficult winter window, with the midfield role expected to become the priority for the club.

Due to the financial demands of their respective clubs, Etihad Stadium officials have already ruled out interest in both Bruno Guimaraes of Newcastle United, and Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi during the winter market, despite admiration in the two players.

Manchester City have not invested heavily in an immediate first-team star during a January transfer window since 2018, as Aymeric Laporte made the switch to the club from Athletic Bilbao only to lift the Premier League title come the end of the season.

On the subject of January, Pep Guardiola explained during a recent interview, “In some positions we need help. When we’re all together we’re the team we were but with important players out for weeks and months it’s so difficult.”

He continued, “I thought central defenders would be fit all season but we’ve struggled, holding midfield and central defenders we need help. The market is the market, not easy, expensive so we’ll see what the club can do.”