Sam Lee provides clarification on future of Manchester City midfielder amid exit speculation | OneFootball

The Athletic’s Sam Lee has provided clarification on the future of Spain midfielder Nico Gonzalez, who has been linked with a possible move away from Manchester City as the summer window progresses.

Hugo Viana has stepped in as director of football and orchestrated a major revamp of Pep Guardiola’s squad, adding Rayan Ait-Nouri, Marcus Bettinelli, Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki to the ranks as Manchester City look to compete on all fronts after a sub-standard 2024-25 campaign.

City have allowed Kevin De Bruyne to leave after deciding against offering the 34-year-old Belgium international a new contract, with the playmaker joining Napoli on a free transfer after agreeing a two-year deal with the recently-crowned Italian champions.

Bernardo Silva has taken over the armband from Kyle Walker, who has joined Burnley from Manchester City in a deal that could be worth £5 million. Kalvin Phillips and Jack Grealish are also expected to find new clubs ahead of the new season.

There has been uncertainty over the future of Ilkay Gundogan, who has attracted interest from Galatasaray despite meeting the conditions for an automatic one-year renewal to his Manchester City contract, which is likely to see the German stay put into the 2025-26 campaign.

Manchester City are still believed to be open to listening to offers for the midfielder, who returned from Barcelona last summer and has failed to return to his 2022-23 self that led and captained the Blues to a historic treble.

Nico Gonzalez added depth to City’s midfield after completing a £50 million move from Porto in January, providing cover for the then-absent Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, who has since returned to action and faced a minor setback at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.

Gonzalez’s future has come under question following recent reports that highlighted a willingness at Manchester City to cash in on the 23-year-old in the case of an attractive offer – with the January signing not considered essential for Guardiola’s project in the seasons to come.

However, The Athletic’s Sam Lee has confirmed that reports that have raised questions over the future of Gonzalez are wide of the mark and the Spain international is set to stay at the Etihad Stadium into the new campaign.

It could well happen that Manchester City do decide to cash in on Gundogan in the event of a decent bid as Viana and co look to trim Guardiola’s bloated squad and assemble as perfect a group as possible to help the Catalan lead his side back to Premier League and UEFA Champions League glory next term.

City are understood to be keen on adding a new right-back as they test the waters with Newcastle for a deal for Valentino Livramento, who is viewed as the ideal long-term replacement for the departed Walker.

Negotiations with Newcastle are believed to have met an impasses as Manchester City deliberate over re-entering talks with the Tyneside club for Livramento, who would be a potent addition to Guardiola’s side in a position that has been an Achilles’ Heel at the Etihad Stadium in recent years.