Man City in talks to sign Chelsea's Bettinellipublished at 20:48 9 June
20:48 9 June
Shamoon Hafez and Nizaar Kinsella BBC Sport football news reporters
Image source, Getty Images
Manchester City are in talks to sign English goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli from Chelsea.
The 33-year-old has been third choice at Stamford Bridge for the past four seasons and City will aim to complete a deal before Tuesday's transfer deadline.
Earlier on Monday, City announced veteran goalkeeper Scott Carson will leave the club when his contract expires this summer.
Pep Guardiola also completed the g of Algerian full-back Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolves for £31m on Monday.
'A dream come true' - City confirm Ait-Nouri gpublished at 18:15 9 June
18:15 9 June
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Rayan Ait-Nouri says ing Manchester City is a "dream come true" after his arrival from Wolves for £31m on a five-year deal was confirmed.
The Algeria international ed Wolves on loan in 2020 and permanently in in 2021 for £14.9m from French club Angers. He made 41 appearances in all competitions for the Old Gold last season.
"I am incredibly happy and honoured to have ed Manchester City," said the 24-year-old.
"City are one of the biggest clubs in the world and the chance to play for the club is a dream come true. I am also excited about working with and learning from Pep and his coaching team and getting to train and play alongside such a world class group of players.
"ing City is also a very proud moment for my family too. Now I can't wait to get started and to play in front of our ers."
Director of Football Hugo Viana added: "Rayan is a player that as a club we have been following closely for quite some time and we are delighted he has ed us.
"He already has extensive Premier League experience and has also demonstrated his quality at international level with Algeria.
"We feel sure that he will be an excellent addition to our squad and that working alongside Pep and his coaching staff will help develop his game even further. And at just 24 he is someone we feel sure will help us in our objective to bring more success to the club."
Henry believes Cherki can get 'close' to Ozil published at 12:23 9 June
12:23 9 June
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Former Arsenal forward and Premier League legend Thierry Henry believes Lyon midfielder Rayan Cherki can reach the same level as Mesut Ozil.
Cherki is heavily linked with a move to Manchester City, and caught the eye against Spain on his debut for in the semi-final of the Uefa Nations League last week.
German World Cup winner Ozil was widely praised for his first touch and weight of during his time in north London and Henry reckons Cherki's potential is sky high.
"This season, he has managed to raise his level," Henry said. "I would put [Mesut] Ozil in a different category, but with time, Rayan can get close to him."
The 21-year-old is about to enter the final year of his contract, but City only have until 19:00 BST to secure a deal if they want him to feature in the Club World Cup.
Cherki has just enjoyed a breakout campaign in Ligue 1, with a return of 12 goals in all competitions the best of his short career.
Beyond that, his work and understanding of the game off the ball has arguably improved the most this term, with him providing 11 assists, 22 big chances - the most in the league - 13 through balls and 48 successful dribbles, entrenching him as one of French football's best creators.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Euro Leagues podcast, expert Julien Laurens said: "He has been incredible this season. Since he was 16 - even before that - the talent was there.
"A player at this level who takes corners with each foot depending on which side of the corner it is, is just incredible, offering an inswinger every time.
"He is one of the greatest technicians in Europe right now."
The data backs up assertions about Cherki's ability with both feet. Of his 44 shots in the 2024-25 season, exactly half (22) came with his left and the same with his right.
Speaking to BBC Sport in April about him, Lyon's former Arsenal player Ainsley Maitland-Niles said: "He is the best natural talent I've ever seen. An absolute master, a wizard with the ball.
"He is taking chances, assists and dragging us up the pitch by taking people on and nutmegging them - he is a genius."
So, how would he fit in at Manchester City?
Pep Guardiola traditionally prefers his midfielders to keep the ball and be patient rather than play in a direct, transitional style. However, he now has a Kevin de Bruyne-shaped hole to fill following the Belgian's departure.
Cherki could also be deployed on the right wing, with wide players Jeremy Doku and Savinho struggling for consistency last season, and Jack Grealish open to leaving the club.
It is an exciting time for a player who may, in the space of seven days, go from making his international debut to ing one of the world's best clubs.
Carson set to leave Manchester Citypublished at 12:13 9 June
12:13 9 June
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Manchester City goalkeeper Scott Carson will leave the club when his contract expires this summer.
The 39-year-old departs Etihad Stadium after a six-year spell, during which he has been part of a squad that has lifted 12 major honours over the past six seasons.
After ing on loan from Derby County in August 2019, Carson became a key figure in Pep Guardiola's dressing room. The shot-stopper then signed a permanent contract in June 2021 but only went on to make two appearances for the club.
A club statement said: "We would like to thank Scott for his hard work and dedication and wish him the very best of luck for the future."
Ait-Nouri on verge of Man City deal, Cherki to follow?published at 11:09 9 June
11:09 9 June
Simon Stone Chief football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Rayan Ait-Nouri's transfer from Wolves to Manchester City should be confirmed later today.
The big question is whether Lyon and midfielder Rayan Cherki s him.
City are keen on Cherki and clearly can do the deal but they will have to move quickly and on Sunday, sources inside the club were calling reports of the transfer being agreed as 'premature'.
In a sense, tomorrow's deadline is a bit misleading. That is just to be involved in the start of the Club World Cup. There is an opportunity to add to squads in mid-tournament from 27 June to 3 July that would make players available for the knockout rounds.
City could also ignore the Club World Cup altogether and sign Cherki at a later date.
That would appear a bit pointless given the massive financial incentives offered by Fifa for European clubs who go deep into the tournament.
I expect City will push hard to get the transfer concluded.
🎧 Rise of American ownership in English footballpublished at 11:07 9 June
11:07 9 June
It is not just at the top of the Premier League where American ownership has a foothold in English football.
Twenty years on from the Glazer takeover of Manchester United, one third of the 72 EFL clubs now have either majority or minority US backers.
In a special episode of BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast, Kelly Cates is ed by a group of experts to investigate whether this trend is likely to continue.
Do you want business on deadline day?published at 08:35 9 June
08:35 9 June
On Tuesday, the first of two summer transfer windows will come to a close.
So, do you expect business to be done at Manchester City before the deadline? Do you want players to come in or exit? If so, what or who do you think is needed?
Gossip: Everton Grealish racepublished at 07:13 9 June
07:13 9 June
Everton are interested in England midfielder Jack Grealish, but any move might have to be a loan deal because of the 29-year-old's wages at Manchester City.. (Daily Mail, external)
'Seems to have lost his spark' or 'more to give at City'? Fan views on Grealishpublished at 15:59 6 June
15:59 6 June
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We asked for your views on what the future holds for Jack Grealish and if you would like to see him remain with Manchester City.
Some ers believe a transfer would be best for both parties:
Glyn: Good player, never worth £100m. Always too negative, never reached the standards he demonstrated at Villa. He has to move on for the benefit of Manchester City and for his own career.
Charlie: He should leave, he hasn't lived up to his £100m transfer, and honestly, he's shocking sometimes.
Dom: Think it's time for him to go. As many have said, he was great during the Treble season, but over the years, he seems to have lost his spark. Whether that's down to Pep training it out of him to fit into a more regimented system or not, I want to see him flourish again, and I think there are a lot of clubs out there that would love to have a player of his flair and calibre.
Steve: I think Jack is a lovely man, but he's had a long time to prove his worth and hasn't managed to do that yet. Probably time to bring on new talent.
However, other fans want Grealish to stay:
Joe: I genuinely believe there is a place for Jack in the squad, it's up to him to earn it - but he is more than capable and he's shown it at City in the Treble season. But if he wants regular football, it's time to go.
James: He has more to give at City; something has happened for him to be left out and treated the way he has. I don't understand, and I'm sure no one really understands Pep. Feel sorry for him, the way he's been treated after how good he was is unfair.
'It really was the best job in local radio'published at 13:11 6 June
13:11 6 June
Mike Minay BBC Radio Manchester reporter
As the 2024-25 season comes to an end, it is expected to be a summer of change at Manchester City. It is also going to be one at BBC Radio Manchester.
After eight seasons with the team, I have decided now is the time to go for a new challenge and that means leaving my role as the station's Manchester City reporter.
For six of those eight seasons I have been lucky to be the voice of the Blues on local radio. I have witnessed four Premier League titles in a row, three final-day dramas, two Manchester derby FA Cup finals and one Treble.
There are too many moments to provide a single standout. Big nights, big games, it really was the best job in local radio.
It started with a one-off opportunity as Manchester City beat West Ham at London Stadium 5-0 in January 2017. It ended with a full-time job and watching Omar Marmoush scoring the club's goal of the season at home to Bournemouth.
The club, the manager and the players have been brilliant to speak to and work with through those years.
City have given me stories some can only ever dream of.
I want to say thank you to the listeners. I tried to call each game fairly, with ion and pride in my work. Win, lose or draw, I hope I made you laugh, cry (but in a good way) and get involved.
Now feels like the right time to explore new broadcasting opportunities and push myself further.
The 29-year-old's position at Etihad Stadium is unclear heading into the summer transfer window, amid a growing sense he would benefit from a move before next season.
Grealish ed City in 2021 for a then-British record £100m and was a key part of Pep Guardiola's Treble-winning side in 2022-23.
However, he has struggled for regular playing time over the past two seasons and started just seven league games in 2024-25.
The England international has been responding to critics on Instagram, commenting under one post regarding the situation: "What do you want me to do, score a hatty in 20"Graphic showing the top six Premier League teams for ing accuracy in 2024-25:
Pos Team es Accuracy
1 Man City 22965 89.9%
2 Arsenal 18621 87.1%
3 Chelsea 19793 86.7%
4 Liverpool 20109 86.3%
5 Southampton 17304 85.5%
6 Aston Villa 16499 85.3%
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As the dust settles on the 2024-25 Premier League season, we have been taking a look at some of the alternative ways the the table could have finished...
ing in football has become an obsession.
The tiki-taka style of Barcelona has now become the basis of managerial philosophies across the leagues and lands of Europe and beyond.
The problem is, few teams have the ability to execute it at the level required to make it effective.
Pep Guardiola took it to another level when he was in charge of the La Liga giants and it has served his Manchester City side well since he took charge in 2016 having won 18 trophies in the following nine years.
And, if the Premier League season had come down to how well teams the ball, unsurprisingly the eight-time champions would have been celebrating a ninth title.
With nearly 90% accuracy, they rarely put a foot - or - wrong.
And yet, in reality, it did not translate to success on the pitch this year.
Whether it was teams finally finding the chinks in the ing-machine armour or the side's misplaced es proving more costly than in previous seasons without key players, City could not take advantage of their dominance with the ball.
And for one of the most acute examples of ability with the ball not translating to on-the-pitch success, we only have to look at Southampton.
The Saints at one point looked set to break Derby County's record for the least amount of points in a Premier League campaign, and yet they were less than 1% behind actual league champions Liverpool when it came to ing accuracy.
While fans could have some appreciation for watching nice football, they might have appreciated some scrappy displays that resulted in hard-fought results and possible safety more.
In contrast, Crystal Palace had the least accurate ing of any team in the league.
And yet, Oliver Glasner's side ultimately finished 12th - just three points off a top-half finish - and won the FA Cup final against the club with the best ing ability of them all.
They are not the only team to have had successful seasons in their own right while being in the bottom six for ing accuracy.
Nottingham Forest were 19th in this table metric, but in reality were fighting for Champions League places.
Bournemouth and Brentford also battled for possible European spots into the final weeks of the season, and even Everton finished the campaign comfortably away from relegation that at one point they looked set to be in a battle to escape.
So what does this tell us? When it comes to winning football matches, ing the ball well is not the be-all and end-all.
*Table data from Opta
Gossip: Man City express interest in highly-rated Gunners prospectpublished at 08:04 5 June
08:04 5 June
Manchester City and Barcelona have expressed an interest in Arsenal's 15-year-old English midfield prospect Max Dowman. (FootballTransfers, external)
'Excellent business' or 'doesn't address the main issue'? Fans on Reijnderspublished at 13:51 4 June
13:51 4 June
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your views on Manchester City's prospective new midfield g Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan.
Here are some of your comments:
David: Excellent piece of business. Looks like the title is coming home.
Mark: Brilliant g, should fit seamlessly into Pep's style of play. Perfect age and cheap price to pay for the quality he'll bring.
Gary: We have an amazing young midfielder in Divine Mukasa who needs to come into the first team. He has 42 goal involvements and I don't want him blocked off by any new gs.
James: Solid player, looks after the ball and can see a . Should do well working with Haaland! Good business.
Jonathon: Looks more like a squad player and his showreels are not that inspiring. If it was a movie trailer, you'd wait for it to hit TV. But let's hope.
Ian: His stats in a poor Milan side were impressive. In Pep we trust!
Geraint: Very good g but City still need to address the main issue, which is the departure of De Bruyne! To this end, City must capture Florian Wirtz at any cost.
Who is Reijnders and what would he bring to City?published at 11:38 4 June
The 26-year-old will sign a five-year contract at Etihad Stadium after agreeing personal with City.
Capped 22 times for the Netherlands, Reijnders is the type of balanced midfielder City lacked last season.
The Dutchman scored 15 goals in 54 matches for Milan last term. It was the best goalscoring season of Reijnders' career, with the 26-year-old hitting double digits for the first time.
But the former AZ Alkmaar midfielder, who made his senior debut for PEC Zwolle in 2018, is far more than just goals.
Capable of playing deep or high in midfield, Reijnders' appeal to a coach like Pep Guardiola is clear.
The midfielder is capable of taking the ball in tight areas and is adept at beating the press either through his ing or ball-carrying.
With Rodri returning from injury towards the end of last season, Reijnders could either play alongside the Spaniard or in a more advanced role.
But the main benefit he will bring is giving Guardiola greater options in midfield.
Image source, Getty Images
