13 Manchester City players who continue to face transfer uncertainty this summer | OneFootball

Manchester City’s transfer window may have started with a clear plan to strengthen and restructure, but just weeks before the 2025/26 season begins, there remains significant uncertainty around a host of first-team names.

Whether due to injury setbacks and fitness problems throughout the course of last season, contract status, squad competition, or outside interest, as many as 13 players are currently facing uncertain futures at the Etihad Stadium.

While City have already begun shaping the next generation of talent through both youth recruitment and internal promotions, several key decisions still lie ahead. Academy departures, loan placements, and difficult choices around senior figures are all on the table as the club balance short-term success with long-term planning.

The exits of fringe players like Kyle Walker and the planned departure of Maximo Perrone have already cleared some space, but many of the more pressing dilemmas involve experienced or high-value individuals.

Some players remain vital to Pep Guardiola’s immediate-term vision but must now navigate increased competition, changing roles, or interest from elsewhere. Others appear to have already reached the end of the road.

With pre-season training set to get underway on July 28 and Manchester City’s first fixtures of the new campaign on the horizon, here’s a comprehensive look at the players whose status remains unresolved — and the factors that could shape their immediate futures.

Ederson

Wanted by Saudi Arabia for around two years, and now reportedly the subject of Turkish interest from giants Galatasaray. Napoli held talks last week that ultimately collapsed. With some Manchester City fans calling for a refresh in goal, the club are already prepared by identifying FC Porto’s Diogo Costa as a potential replacement.

Stefan Ortega Moreno

Manchester City rate the German goalkeeper highly and will no doubt want to keep him, but the 32-year-old has long-held ambitions to become a first-choice goalkeeper at a top European club. That seems unlikely at City — and a move elsewhere could appeal if the right opportunity arises.

Vitor Reis

Signed for £29.6 million in January, but hasn’t yet nailed down a consistent starting role in Pep Guardiola’s team. With the centre-back options stacked, a loan looks highly probable — potentially within the City Football Group now that regulations allow player movement to Girona. Time is on his side, nobody is doubting his talent, and a career at City remains highly likely further down the line for the 19-year-old.

John Stones

Stones publicly committed his future to the Etihad Stadium during the recent FIFA Club World Cup, stating, “I’m here, I want to stay here, I love it.” But persistent injuries last season raised questions about his long-term role — and City’s defence is evolving around him. One to monitor.

Claudio Echeverri

Highly rated and considered part of Manchester City’s long-term vision. But given the current array of competition in midfield, the Argentine could benefit from a high-level European loan to accelerate his development in 2025/26.

Jack Grealish

Now viewed as surplus to requirements. A permanent transfer is unlikely due to his wages and City’s valuation, meaning a loan is seen as the most feasible route out. Interest has come from West Ham and Tottenham — and some within football urging him to move abroad to revitalise his career.

Ilkay Gündoğan

Signed a one-year extension, but with Manchester City’s midfield trending younger — and new signings like Tijjani Reijnders and Nico Gonzalez arriving in the last seven months — the veteran German’s long-term role is under scrutiny. Galatasaray could appeal given his family links to Turkey.

Mateo Kovacic

Manchester City will wait and assess. Recovering from an Achilles injury and not part of current transfer plans, but once fit, his role could be evaluated — especially given the increasing competition in midfield.

James McAtee

A permanent exit is now expected, with the club likely to include clauses such as a buy-back or sell-on. Bundesliga interest has been strong from the likes of Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Dortmund, while some Premier League clubs including Nottingham Forest are circling. His future will be decided in the coming weeks.

Nico Gonzalez

Despite external claims of a potential sale, internal indications are that Gonzalez will return for pre-season on July 28 and remains in the plans. However, he’s reportedly not seen as crucial — and should a strong offer arrive, City could reconsider.

Matheus Nunes

Adapted well to a utility role at right-back but may become surplus if a natural full-back is signed. His future likely hinges on what happens with City’s search in that area.

Nico O’Reilly

Exit rumours were swiftly denied by Manchester City this week. Still, the arrival of Rayan Ait-Nouri and a packed midfield group could limit his chances. Pre-season will offer more clues about how he fits in Pep Guardiola’s 2025/26 plans.

Kalvin Phillips

One of the only clear-cut decisions. The England international will leave the club this summer — it’s now just a matter of where he ends up.

With a pre-season fixture against Palermo looming in early August and the market entering its decisive phase, Manchester City’s next few weeks could see a flurry of exits — permanent or otherwise.

While some players will only leave under the right circumstances, the club’s openness to change, and the shifting priorities of Pep Guardiola’s evolving squad, mean that exits shouldn’t be ruled out even among the more senior names.

The club’s transfer activity moving forward may also be directly influenced by who departs. Should Ederson leave, Diogo Costa could follow. If Gündoğan or Nunes move on, City may yet return to the market. And in the case of players like Echeverri, Reis, or McAtee, the decisions could shape the next wave of City stars — whether at the Etihad Stadium or elsewhere within the CFG umbrella.