Manchester City hold major wage bill strategy ahead of summer transfer window | OneFootball

Officials at Manchester City hold an ambition to trim down the club’s wage bill in a new approach to business ahead of the summer transfer window, according to reports.

The former Premier League champions are expected to undergo significant work this summer as they look to bring the first-team squad back up to its competitive best and challenge for the biggest honours from next season.

The market will follow on from a hugely disappointing 2024/25 season that has seen City fail to seriously compete for a fifth successive Premier League title success having claimed all of the last four honours, while crashing out of the Champions League before the last-16 phase.

Hugo Viana is expected to front Manchester City’s recruitment drive when he takes on the role of sporting director on a full-time basis after the ongoing season, succeeding Txiki Begiristain when he brings an end to his 12-season stay in the role.

And while much of the media attention will no doubt be focussed on who Manchester City will be bringing into their squad this summer in the way of brand new signings, a new report has shone light on a separate aim of those in decision-making positions at the Etihad Stadium.

That is according to the information of The Athletic’s Sam Lee, who says sources at the club have now revealed the internal plan to trim down the first-team squad’s wage bill this summer, despite the intention to bring in players to take the team forward.

Manchester City have already confirmed the pending departure of Kevin De Bruyne upon the expiry of his Etihad Stadium contract in the coming weeks, while both Ederson and Bernardo Silva have been strongly linked with exits from the club.

However, the report confirms that Ilkay Gundogan will remain at Manchester City into next season, having already seen an option for a second year of contract triggered during the course of the ongoing campaign.

The Germany international’s performances as a whole have drastically improved as the season has gone on following his return to Manchester City last summer in a free transfer from FC Barcelona and the Catalan club’s financial struggles.

Pep Guardiola has placed further emphasis on the importance of Gundogan in recent weeks as he looks to secure a top-five finish for his side and an FA Cup final success when they take on Crystal Palace later this month at Wembley Stadium.

Speaking during a recent media conference, Guardiola told reporters of his former captain, “The Gundo (Ilkay Gundogan) against Leicester, Bournemouth, today [against Crystal Palace] is the Gundo I remember when we won the Treble and Quadruple – an important player.

“His activity, pace, defensive intelligence. Gundo has been with us massively. And as a team we could not help, because it’s not about you, you, you. Everyone was down, below, because the team was not playing good. When the team plays good, individuals rise.”

Ilkay Gundogan is believed to be attracting transfer interest from Galatasaray in Turkey, and while the midfielder has kept the door open to a move to the country, now may not be the time for him to step away from the very top of the game.