Qatar coach targeted for key role alongside Pep Guardiola as Man City receive clear transfer message from first-team star | OneFootball

Manchester City could secure their first signing of the 2023 summer transfer window as early as this week, following crucial developments reported on Tuesday.

The Premier League champions are kicking plans in to action, and as more reports surface on transfer targets and current first-team stars, the more their business could develop in the immediate few days and weeks.

Tuesday brought about significant developments concerning the future of Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic and his possible arrival at the Etihad Stadium, while the future of Josko Gvardiol was further spoken upon with regards to a City deal.

As for potential outgoings, Manchester City received a very clear stance from one of their first-team stars that has strongly been linked with an exit in recent weeks, as Kalvin Phillips spoke with the media on Monday evening.

Those headlines came amongst further updates on the future of Bernardo Silva and Manchester City’s primary target to replace the recently exited assistant coach Enzo Maresca. Here is your comprehensive review of Tuesday in the world of Etihad Stadium rumours!

Arrivals

Manchester City have submitted a written bid of £25M to Chelsea for Mateo Kovacic. (Sam Lee, The Athletic)

Mateo Kovacic will join Manchester City with the deal to be finalised by the end of the week for a fee of around €30M including bonuses. (Florian Plettenberg)

Manchester City are closing in on the £25M signing of Mateo Kovacic, with all parties hopeful of a conclusion before the end of the week. (Simon Jones, Daily Mail)

Manchester City will push for Josko Gvardiol after the Kovacić deal is completed, with personal terms on the verge of being agreed with the Croatian centre-back. RB Leipzig want ‘way more’ than the reported €80M fee. (Fabrizio Romano)

Manchester City are working on the return of Juanma Lillo as assistant coach to Pep Guardiola. (Alvaro de Grado, Relevo)

Manchester City are hopeful of striking a deal to bring Juanma Lillo back to the club. Lillo’s assistant at Al Sadd SC, Inigo Dominguez could also join him as part of Pep Guardiola’s staff. (Sam Lee, Pol Ballus)

Manchester City are showing interest in Napoli centre-back, Kim Min-jae. The 26-year-old has a release clause of €45M valid until July 15. A deal with Bayern Munich is ‘on the right track’, but there is ‘still a risk’. (Philipp Kessler, Manuel Bonke)

West Ham still expect Manchester City to enter the race for Declan Rice this week. (Fabrizio Romano)

Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool have all made enquiries with Real Madrid and representatives close to Fede Valverde – but the message was clear that he is not looking to move and the La Liga giants are not looking to sell. (TEAMtalk)

Departures

Paris Saint-Germain are still planning to insist on Bernardo Silva as their top summer target. All parties feel the Manchester City midfielder will not join any Saudi Arabian clubs now, and that the Paris side will push again. City however, will not make any discounts. (Fabrizio Romano)

Arsenal remain interested in signing Ilkay Gundogan. (Sam Dean, The Telegraph)

Ilkay Gundogan‘s offer from Saudi Arabia amounts to an annual salary of €35M. (Achraf Ben Ayad)

João Cancelo will leave Manchester City this summer: A decision that is very clear on both the player’s side and the club’s side. City are now looking for the best solution; one more reason for the attempt to extend Kyle Walker’s contract. (Fabrizio Romano)

Barcelona remain the most interested club in Joao Cancelo, depending on Financial FairPlay. (Fabrizio Romano)

Manchester City’s £40M buy-back clause for Romeo Lavia would no longer be valid in 2024 if he was to leave Southampton. City would only have a percentage of sell-on clause. Arsenal are advancing in talks to sign the midfielder. (Fabrizio Romano)

Kalvin Phillips: “My intention is to stay at Manchester City. We’ve just won the Treble, so there’s no reason to leave… I can’t give it 12 months and say I’m not playing so I’m going to leave. With many players at City, it can take a while to cement yourself into the team.

“I spoke to quite a few players: Nathan Ake, Jack [Grealish]. They all said the first 12 months were the hardest of their Manchester City careers but after it doesn’t become easy, but easier. I’m just going to go away for the off-season, and come back fighting.

“Just know how difficult it is to understand the way Pep wants to play and how quickly you need to adapt to play in his system. I’m on the brink of almost getting it. Obviously there’s a little work in pre-season and hopefully be alright.”

Kalvin Phillips is wanted by West Ham, who view the Manchester City midfielder as a prime candidate to replace Declan Rice. (Sami Mokbel, Daily Mail)

Manchester City remain undecided as to whether Kalvin Phillips will remain at the club next season. (Graeme Bailey, 90Min)

Tommy Doyle: “I am not in a rush to move anywhere and leave Manchester City. The next step for me is to play Premier League football. Once I have done that for a year I’ll see where I am at. I need to have conversations with City to see what they want from me. Nothing has happened yet.”

Kyle Walker is yet to make a firm decision on his Manchester City future as Bayern Munich, Sheffield United and West Ham all show interest. Saudi Arabia could be also be a lucrative option. (Jamie Spencer, Graeme Bailey – 90Min)

Confirmed Deals

Enzo Maresca to Leicester City