Manchester City are potentially at risk of being without key defender Josko Gvardiol for the rest of the season following the injury he sustained in Sunday's 1-1 draw against Chelsea. The Croatian defender had to be helped off the pitch in the second half, in the same game as chief centre-back partner Ruben Dias was also unable to continue, while John Stones is still sidelined.
Manchester City are reportedly mulling over a January move for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi as Pep Guardiola sees injury problems mount at the Etihad Stadium. The Blues are considering dipping into the winter transfer market for reinforcements after two more senior stars picked up knocks in a draw with Chelsea that has rocked their Premier League title aspirations.
Real Madrid have devised a fresh strategy to lure Rodri away from Manchester City, with the Spanish giants looking to capitalise on the midfielder's stalling contract talks. Los Blancos view the Ballon d'Or winner as the ultimate target to complete their midfield evolution at the Santiago Bernabeu, and startling reports from Spain suggest a blockbuster transfer offensive could be launched.
It has not been a happy New Year for Manchester City. Pep Guardiola's side ended 2025 on Arsenal's coat tails at the top of the Premier League, but 2026 got off to a frustrating start as they drew at Sunderland to slip four points behind the Gunners. And after a brilliant performance against Chelsea ended with another frustrating draw on Sunday, City are now six points off the pace and two centre-backs down.
Manchester City produced an exceptional performance against Chelsea put paid a heavy price for not putting the game out of sight as they had to make do with a 1-1 draw which sees Arsenal move further into the distance in the Premier League title race.
Manchester City star Rayan Cherki has explained how Pep Guardiola's style of football played a key role in his move to the Etihad Stadium. The France international credits Guardiola for helping him realise that football can be "simpler" and "cleaner".
We reached the midway point of the Premier League season on Thursday night, with Arsenal holding a very promising four-point advantage at the top of the table as the Gunners look to end an agonising, 22-year title drought, and their chances of doing so have only increased after Saturday's hard-fought win at Bournemouth. Of course, Manchester City are very dangerous chasers - as Arsenal know to their considerable cost - and Aston Villa will obviously be hoping to stay in touch even after their chastening 4-1 defeat at the Emirates on Tuesday.
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has offered an update on Antoine Semenyo amid talk the winger is on the brink of a £65 million move to Manchester City. Semenyo played for Bournemouth against Arsenal on Saturday and, according to his manager, is set to feature for the Cherries again on Wednesday night against Tottenham in the Premier League at the Vitality Stadium.
Manchester City ace Nathan Ake admits that Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman has told him that he must play more if he is to make the international squad for the 2026 World Cup. The defender has made just two starts in the Premier League so far this season and has hinted at the prospect of a January exit amid reported interest from Catalan giants Barcelona.
Premier League clubs face unusual kick-off times this weekend, as the New Year's schedule continues apace. Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Chelsea are all in action on Sunday, with 3pm kick-offs being aired live on television. GOAL can explain why the kick-off times are out of the ordinary as the year of 2026 gets underway.
Sunderland stalwart Luke O'Nien has brutally trolled Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma following their heated post-match clash at the Stadium of Light. The Mackems defender didn't play in the goalless Premier League draw but still found time to wind up the Italian stopper, while manager Pep Guardiola appeared to play the role of peacemaker after the game.
Pep Guardiola has given his reaction to Enzo Maresca's shock departure at Chelsea. The Italian manager was dismissed by the Blues on Thursday after a tense period which saw him call out the club's hierarchy, while he had also overseen a run of three games without a victory. Maresca has also been reportedly lined up as a potential replacement for Guardiola at Manchester City, where he previously worked with Guardiola as an assistant manager.
Reports in Spain suggest that Rodrygo is laying the groundwork for a potential move away from Real Madrid. The Brazil international forward faces fierce competition for places at the Bernabeu and is growing increasingly frustrated at having to fill a support role. Interest in his services is said to have been shown from the Premier League, with Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City known to be admirers.
Manchester City have reportedly taken another huge stride towards completing a big-money transfer for Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo. The Ghana international is expected to be on the move in the January window as there is a £65 million ($87m) clause in his contract with the Cherries that can be triggered by any of his many suitors. He could soon be heading to the Etihad Stadium.
Gianluigi Donnarumma lost his cool at the end of Manchester City’s frustrating goalless draw at Sunderland, with the towering Italian goalkeeper becoming caught up in an ugly post-game spat. City manager Pep Guardiola was among those to step in as peacemaker after seeing his first-choice shot-stopper clash with combative Black Cats star Luke O’Nien.
Pep Guardiola was in a positive mood after Manchester City drew 0-0 at Sunderland even though it meant his side fell four points behind Arsenal in the Premier League title race. City failed to score for the first time in 10 league matches and lost Nico Gonzalez and Savinho to injury. Guardiola, however, could be seen smiling during his post-match interview.
Manchester City lost crucial ground to Arsenal in the Premier League title race as they could only manage a 0-0 draw away to Sunderland. Pep Guardiola's side had a poor first half and Erling Haaland had a bad day at the office, only having one proper chance which he sent straight at Sunderland's superb goalkeeper Robin Roefs. Gianluigi Donnarumma was even more impressive down the other end.
Chelsea will be managed by Calum McFarlane when they play Manchester City this weekend, after confirming the sacking of Enzo Maresca on New Year's Day. McFarlane is the club's current Under-21 coach but he will step up to manage the senior team in Maresca's stead, and will also face the media on Friday.
Enzo Maresca’s departure from Chelsea has sparked movement elsewhere, with Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior reportedly among the candidates under consideration at Stamford Bridge, according to The Guardian. Should Rosenior leave for Chelsea, Minnesota United head coach Eric Ramsay has been linked as a potential replacement at Strasbourg. Minnesota finished fourth in MLS’s Western Conference last season.
Enzo Maresca, who has been relieved of his duties at Stamford Bridge, revealed to Chelsea on three occasions prior to his New Year’s Day dismissal that he has held talks with officials at Manchester City regarding a potential opportunity to succeed Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium. The Italian tactician is now out of work and waiting on enticing offers.
The January transfer window is notoriously tricky for buying clubs to manoeuvre in. Sure, willing teams may have the money to spend and financial wiggle room to squeeze some deals in, but their rivals may be less inclined to do business midway through the season with trophies and other honours still up for grabs.
Arsenal should have conceded a penalty in their 1-0 win over Everton on 20 December, according to the Premier League's Key Match Incidents Panel (KMI). The Gunners have now been told they should have given away a spot kick when William Saliba and Thierno Barry challenged for the ball at Hill Dickinson Stadium - in a controversial decision which could have huge implications in this season’s title race.
Ex-Manchester City star Joao Cancelo is edging towards another mid-season transfer, with reports indicating the full-back is preparing to leave Al-Hilal when the January window opens. A return to Barcelona has emerged as a realistic possibility, with interest also coming from Italy as Europe’s elite look to bolster their squads.
Andoni Iraola has made it clear that Antoine Semenyo is still an "important player" for Bournemouth despite his reportedly imminent move to Manchester City, insisting he will feature against Arsenal this weekend. Speculation around Semenyo’s future has intensified as the winter window approaches, with City increasingly confident of triggering the winger’s £65 million ($86m) release clause. Yet Iraola has no intention of sidelining his most influential attacker while the Cherries fight to arrest a worrying slide in form.
Manchester City are reportedly in talks over the £30 million ($40m) loan-to-buy sale of Oscar Bobb as Pep Guardiola gears up to welcome Antoine Semenyo to the Etihad. City and Bournemouth have held constructive negotiations over the structure of Semenyo’s £65m transfer, with all sides confident that the framework of the deal is now in place. The Ghana international has already given verbal approval to the switch, with formal steps set to begin once the January window opens on New Year’s Day.
Manchester City
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