For the second and final part of this preview, we will look into the minutes of players this season and compare them to 22/23. Pep Guardiola runs a tight squad that will need expanding in the summer for the coming Club World Cup and plenty of young players will be looking for their pathway forward into the first time.

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Previewing Manchester City 2024 Summer Window - Part 2

Before we get into the minutes of players this season, here is a reminder of where we currently are in the squad make up. The minutes players have had in the current season. 👇

Departures

Here is the current squad makeup with minutes played up to this date (15/03/2024), showing the percentages of minutes. Three departures we expect to see in the summer are highlighted and offer different amounts of space with their respective roles.

Note that 44 games have been played so far.

Bernardo Silva covering both midfield and on the wing has a big chunk of minutes, do you look at one or two replacements for him? Sergio Gomez at left back is no longer needed with Gvardiol and Ake locking down that position. Kalvin Phillips on loan and due to be sold in the summer only opens a tiny amount of minutes up but he should have been taking more off Rodri shoulders.

22/23 Manchester City Squad Minutes

The minutes of Gundogan and Mahrez got spread over quite a few players following their departure. The De Bruyne injury opened up space in midfield. Stones injury opening up minutes in defence.

Note that 22/23 included 61 games in total.

24/25 Possible Minutes Changes

Here is a look at this season minutes, highlighting which players we can expect to see a change in minutes for 24/25.

Thoughts

• Ortega and Ederson totals will remain the same percentages if he extends or another back up keeper arrives. Currently Ederson is the clear number one.

• Kyle Walker significantly increased his minutes this season, something to expect a drop off in. Whether that is due to an arrival, replacement internally or just more rotation as he gets older.

• Gvardiol will only grow further into this team in the future now settled in. Expecting an increase in minutes next season but not a significant jump.

• John Stones should not be missing as much time in the following season due to injury, although we will allow some room for it as he never usually hits the top share of minutes in his position.

• Rico Lewis is fantastic for the squad as a utility player in RB and midfield, as that benefits him getting minutes. These past two seasons will have seem a similar level of minutes. To develop more, he needs to push into the team.

• Rodri would ideally shave some minutes off his total to remain more fresh in a long season, that coming because the team would have brought in a player capable of rotating with him.

• Mateo Kovacic will likely continue to pick up niggles in his career and not be able to demand the highest minutes in the team, putting him a on a similar amount in the following season.

• Kevin De Bruyne we don’t expect to have another injury as sizable next season but that doesn’t mean he will be pushed back to the same high of 22/23 and likely managed better. Conserved for when needed most.

• Matheus Nunes doesn’t have a clear role in the team this season but if he does find it, a minutes increase will follow.

• Phil Foden has became a star player in this season and without De Bruyne for long periods of time, Foden has been unstoppable. Next season if pushed into central midfield his minutes should drop slightly. Right now both wing positions are unclaimed which has opened up more minutes.

• Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku for different reasons have had inconsistent seasons which means their minutes are lower than expected. Both will be aiming to increase them totals next season.

• Oscar Bobb moving into his second season will be looking for a small increase in minutes, games at the start of the season (League Cup, CL Group games) he will be more trusted for now compared to in his first season.

• Julian Alvarez has been taking a lot of minutes centrally from De Bruyne missing and out wide from the wingers. Another I’d expect to have his minutes drop back down.

2024/25 Manchester City Team

Heading into the new season, this is the squad we have assembled in the attempt to fill in some holes in midfield, defense and out wide. Conservative with three players arriving although many might think more are needed, we wanted to remain open to providing a pathway to Oscar Bobb and Rico Lewis. Ensure Kovacic and Nunes have the opportunity to grow in the team. All of which would not be possible if another midfielder was to arrive.

IN: Bruno Guimaraes, Jarred Branthwaite & Savio
OUT: Bernardo Silva, Sergio Gomez & Kalvin Phillips

Minutes Projections

Here is a projection of the minutes for the coming season, including the players we have suggested and factoring in the changes mentioned above. Assuming a 61 game season.

Thoughts

• At RB we have gone for Akanji and Walker sharing duties down that side, Akanji has been one of the best defenders this season and ticks every box for the team at RB. Also covering some minutes at CB.

• At LB Gvardiol and Ake will continue to fight it out on that side and both remain options for rotation at CB if needed.

• Bringing in Jarred Branthwaite is a mixture of his potential long term, taking minutes off Stones/Dias rotating and that in the current situation Everton are in, City could strike a good deal. Allowing the four players set for full back to focus on their position. Comfortable playing either side at CB. Along with Gvardiol you have a future partnership beyond the final years of Stones, Dias, Akanji and Ake.

• Bruno Guimaraes arrives into the midfield to shoulder the rotation at six, easing Rodri minutes. Being the ‘Gundogan’ replacement in the left eight spot.

• Kovacic consistently picks up niggles so next season should continue to have him playing regularly but not a key part of the midfield. Very valuable option to use in a double pivot.

• Pulling back De Bruyne minutes as he heads into the final years of his career to make sure he effective when on the pitch rather than running him into the ground.

• Foden getting more minutes in central midfield as well as right wing whilst Savio finds his feet. That’s alongside KDB and in place of him in midfield.

• Oscar Bobb and Rico Lewis are both in a similar position when it comes to minutes next season, clearly talent and can step into a few positions. As a utility player they will cover those and get 500-1,000 minutes given the amount of cup games we play and the expanded champions league format. Another new winger (Bobb) or midfielder (Rico) on top of what is already selected, will wipe out a lot of the opportunities they would have for minutes. Bobb is down to get minutes on the flank and in the middle. Rico providing some minutes at RB and in midfield.

• Grealish and Doku this season will both battle it out for the left wing spot, get consistent minutes and put up regular goal contributions out wide.

• Savio has been announced already as arriving in the summer and going on pre-tour before a decision is made on another loan spell. We believe he is more than good enough to get into the team and play significant minutes. Holding off on bringing in another winger to not take minutes away from Foden and opportunities from Nunes/Bobb on the flank.

• Alvarez to take a step back in minutes with Haaland returning to full fitness, providing rotation and prepared increase of an injury. Picking up minutes dropping deeper as a second striker.

Note this is for a 61 game season, strictly a projection open to change and won’t take into account injuries/suspensions.

Other Considerations

• If City was in the market for a back up goalkeeper since Stefan Ortega has moved on then we would look towards the Las Palmas keeper Alvaro Valles (26) who is complete all around from shot stopping to his distribution. Two years remaining on his contract.

• We have gone for Jarred Branthwaite at CB but there were quite a few options mentioned in the previous newsletter, Mika Marmol would be a high quality yet cheaper option.

• If you didn’t want a central defender to arrive, keeping Akanji in the middle, then a RB option that would be at an affordable price is Arnau Martinez at Girona.

• The Internal option of Callum Doyle should be a real possibility that City look into.

• Bruno Guimaraes is our pick for midfield but there is also Lucas Paqueta available if his betting charges are cleared, an excellent option. Joao Neves capable of being a partner like Kovacic is to Rodri but a premium one, can develop into an eight long term but at 18 he would need time that the other two options suggested wouldn’t.

• Whether Savio is loaned out or not is a factor in considering another arrival at RW. If you want to move Phil Foden to play mostly central midfield then your problem at the moment is him being the best RW option. Pedro Neto is an excellent option City could look at.

Ahead in 2025/26

• The replacement for Kevin De Bruyne and the talk about a creative midfielder arriving. Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala are two names talked about. All of which we think is too early and 2025 is when City should look at that transfer rather than 2024. Unless an extension is signed, that is the summer his contract ends.
  
  See how Foden progresses into the middle as a creative force. Guimaraes or Paqueta would add more creativity in the middle. Oscar Bobb in the future.

• The progression of Matheus Nunes will be a lot clearer in the next window and whether he has managed to find a role in the team.

• Heading into the 2025/26 season Oscar Bobb will be 22 years of age and Rico will be 20. At least two season with the team and we will have a clear idea of if they can become a regular starter or not, if they haven’t’ already. Those two can save a lot of money in future transfers.

• Walker will be 35 years old heading into the 25/26 season, if he is going to decline then we would have seen it or the signs by then. He will have a year left on his contract so a sale will be on the cards.

That’s our look on the summer 2024 transfer window for Manchester City, an elite arrival needed in midfield and the opportunity to bring in talent on the flank and in defense. There is a lot more talk about City possibly bring more players in than that but it’s very tough to do that when you look at the minutes. Phil Foden is a main player now moving into midfield. Nunes, Doku, Grealish, Bobb and Lewis are all players that should push for more minutes next season as well.

Let us know what you think about the summer transfer window and which signings you would go after in the comments below. 👇

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