Manchester City
Manchester City agree in principle to extend Phil Foden despite dip in form
City have agreed in principle to extend Phil Foden’s contract despite his recent dip in form. summer
Manchester City have reached an understanding with Phil Foden on a new long-term deal, with the England international said to have “agreed in principle” to a contract that will keep him at the Etihad beyond his 30th birthday. The club and player remain aligned and are expected to finalise terms “in due course.”
The negotiations represent a notable shift in representation for the 25-year-old, who had been handled by his family through his career. These talks, however, were led by Rafaela Pimenta, the Brazilian lawyer who also manages teammate Erling Haaland after inheriting the late Mino Raiola’s stable in 2022.
Foden’s connection to City is long established. Scouted at four, the Stockport-born player received private education funded by the club and progressed through the academy to make his first-team debut aged 17 in 2017. He has since made more than 350 senior appearances and emerged as a key figure from 2020 during a period of sustained success for City.
That peak arrived in 2023–24, when Foden completed a clean sweep of England’s major individual honours: PFA Players’ Player of the Year, FWA Footballer of the Year and Premier League Player of the Season. A difficult Euro 2024 with England followed, and Foden acknowledged mental and physical issues last May that undermined his 2024–25 season. This campaign has not matched his best form.
A prolific spell across four Premier League matches from late November to mid-December produced six goals and one assist, but he has not scored since and has struggled for regular starts. Since a halftime withdrawal against Manchester United on Jan. 17, Foden has started only two of City’s last 12 Premier League fixtures, been an unused substitute in three and played five minutes or less in three others. He was also left on the bench in both legs of the Champions League round of 16 with Real Madrid.
Versatility has both helped and hampered him; during his winter run he operated on the left, right and as a No. 10 and has since found competition for places intense. With Jérémy Doku back on the left, Antoine Semenyo established on the right after arriving in January and Rayan Cherki providing spark through the middle, his role has been limited. The March international break highlighted England manager Thomas Tuchel’s ongoing search for solutions, a situation that could leave openings for Foden in the summer.
After Euro 2024, he said, “The position I was put in on the left was very difficult to influence the game,” he told the Manchester Evening News.
Chelsea
Man City Make Contact Over Pedro Neto as Maresca Weighs Wide Options
City are in contact over Neto, but Chelsea’s price and Savinho’s future may decide the outcome.
Manchester City have reportedly opened talks with the camp of Chelsea winger Pedro Neto about a possible return to working with Enzo Maresca.
According to Fabrizio Romano, City are already in “direct contact” with the player’s representatives as they explore a summer move to the Etihad Stadium. The situation is not straightforward, though, and several factors could shape whether any deal progresses.
One key issue is Savinho. Romano has also named Tottenham Hotspur as admirers of Neto, and any departure for the City winger could sharpen Maresca’s interest in strengthening his wide areas. Chelsea’s asking price will also matter, with the London club not actively seeking a sale and likely expecting a strong offer after signing Neto only two summers ago.
Chelsea’s squad depth means the winger is not indispensable in west London. The club has added heavily to its attacking ranks, even after the recent departures of Alejandro Garnacho to Aston Villa and Tyrique George to Everton. Morgan Rogers has arrived for a record-breaking fee, while Geovany Quenda has also joined from Sporting CP. That group sits alongside Estêvão, Jamie Gittens, Cole Palmer and Mykhailo Mudryk, who recently returned after his doping ban was lifted.
Even so, Neto’s value is clear. Only Enzo Fernández created more chances than his 53 last season in the Premier League, and no Chelsea player bettered his 12 big chances created. His pace also gives him a directness that can trouble deep defensive blocks.
Xabi Alonso will want a closer look before any final decision is made, especially as Neto made a late return to preseason after his World Cup involvement with Portugal and is yet to play under Chelsea’s new manager.
City, too, have options on the flanks. Jérémy Doku delivered the best season of his City career in 2025-26, Antoine Semenyo made an immediate impact after arriving mid-season, and Omar Marmoush, Rayan Cherki and Phil Foden have all been used wide in recent campaigns. Jeremy Monga, still only 17, offers further cover. Even so, if Savinho were to depart, Maresca would be left with fewer natural wingers than he would ideally want.
Analytics & Stats
Foden identifies the small shifts under Maresca at Manchester City
Foden says Maresca’s City is similar to Guardiola’s, but with key changes in defence and buildup.
Phil Foden has described the early changes brought in under Enzo Maresca, stressing that the new set-up remains close to what Manchester City knew before, even if there are clear adjustments in place.
Speaking before City’s second preseason friendly, Foden said: “It’s very similar to how we played under Pep, but there are still things that are a bit different,” Foden said prior to City’s second preseason friendly. “I don’t want give too much away of how we play. Maybe the defending’s a bit different the way we set up.
“We have different ideas about how to play out from the back. A different variety of things on the ball. Different things, but we are very comfortable because we want to build from the back and try to create, so I think it suits everyone really well.
“I’ve found it good, to be honest. All I have known is Pep Guardiola so to go to a new manager is a fresh start. I am enjoying it. I am enjoying the new coaching staff and I like the ideas and way we are playing. I am excited for the new season and hopefully we can have a really good year.”
City head into 2026-27 with the clear aim of reclaiming the Premier League title in Maresca’s first season in charge. The club have won the league six times in the past seven seasons, but have finished without the trophy in each of the last two.
For Foden, the challenge is twofold. He wants to return to the level that made him the Premier League’s best player when City last won the title in 2023-24, while also becoming a more senior voice in the dressing room.
“I think I have to be really [a leader],” Foden revealed. “Obviously I have been in the club for so long, I am one of the last remaining players to have been here for a long time. So I think have to be this season, one of the leaders, one of the captains or in and around it for sure. I am looking forward to that new responsibility and trying to take leadership [on].
“What [Maresca] wants from me at the moment is to be an example to the young lads on tour,” Foden added. “To try to train well, keep my head down and work hard and set a good example to the young lads. That’s what I have been trying to do, really.”
The squad has already lost some senior figures this summer. Bernardo Silva and John Stones departed, while Rodri could also move on as interest from Barcelona and particularly Real Madrid grows.
Foden, who captained City in their preseason opener against Inter Milan, is now 26 and far beyond the stage of being treated as a young prospect. After the inconsistency of the last two years, he knows 2026-27 must be a productive season rather than another missed opportunity.
His output has dropped from the level he hit during City’s dominant run, including the club’s first Champions League title in 2022-23. More recently, his role has been reduced, and although he made a strong start to 2025-26, he started only three of 14 Premier League matches from February until City were overtaken by Arsenal in the title race.
Across the last two seasons, he has scored 23 goals in all competitions and recorded 14 assists, numbers that underline how far he has to go to match his peak form again.
Analytics & Stats
One priority signing each Premier League club should target before the window closes
A club-by-club look at the main transfer priority every Premier League side still needs to address.
With less than a month left in the transfer window, Premier League clubs are still expected to be busy. Incomings and outgoings remain likely across the division, and every side still appears to have at least one clear gap to fill before the deadline.
Arsenal may be attracting attention with their pursuit of Vinícius Júnior, but their bigger need is in central midfield. Declan Rice carried too much of the load last season, while Martín Zubimendi faded after the break and Myles Lewis-Skelly is not yet fully trusted there. Another box-to-box midfielder would help enormously.
Aston Villa could soon be short at left back if Lucas Digne leaves, which would leave Ian Maatsen as the only senior option. Bournemouth need more depth in wide areas, Brentford still require a more natural left back, and Brighton & Hove Albion must replace the goals lost with Danny Welbeck’s move to Chelsea.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have done plenty of work already but still have not addressed the goalkeeper position. Robert Sánchez improved in 2025-26, yet the club still look in need of a top-class solution.
Elsewhere, Coventry City are close to signing Carl Rushworth permanently and would then turn to left back. Crystal Palace need centre-back reinforcements after losing Marc Guéhi and Maxence Lacroix, while Everton must add a defensive midfielder after Idrissa Gana Gueye’s departure.
Fulham will look for winger depth after strengthening up front, Hull City want more options in attack, and Ipswich Town are still waiting for a central midfielder. Leeds United may also need another striker to cover for Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s injury record.
Liverpool’s most pressing issue is out wide, Manchester City need a right back, Manchester United still want a more destructive midfielder, and Newcastle are alarmingly short at left back. Nottingham Forest must replace Elliot Anderson in midfield, Sunderland need more balance on the left side, and Tottenham Hotspur have already moved aggressively to rebuild after last season’s collapse.
