Pep Guardiola’s attention to detail is well known. The manager’s dedication to tactical preparation once led him to pull a muscle in his back after watching hours of footage of an opponent at Bayern Munich ahead of a preseason match. That same obsessive approach now meets a tighter calendar. The Premier League have belatedly announced dates and kickoff times for remaining fixtures, handing Manchester City a compact schedule which has left them “frustrated,” per BBC Sport.

City’s remaining fixtures are:

Monday, May 4 — Everton — Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool
Saturday, May 9 — Brentford — Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Wednesday, May 13 — Crystal Palace — Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Saturday, May 16 — Chelsea (FA Cup final) — Wembley Stadium, London
Tuesday, May 19 — Bournemouth — Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth
Sunday, May 24 — Aston Villa — Etihad Stadium, Manchester

The scheduling headache stems from the unresolved Crystal Palace fixture. The match was first postponed in February once City qualified for the Carabao Cup final and has not been rescheduled because of Palace’s run in the Conference League. City reportedly preferred playing Bournemouth on May 13 to finish with consecutive home games, but the Premier League instead placed that trip on May 19, three days after the FA Cup final. Andoni Iraola’s final home game as Bournemouth boss could prove to be an emotional setting for City’s penultimate league contest.

Arsenal face their own congestion with the Champions League semifinals, but the sequence is more manageable. Their fixtures are:

Wednesday, April 29 — Atlético Madrid — Metropolitano, Madrid
Saturday, May 2 — Fulham — Emirates Stadium, London
Tuesday, May 5 — Atlético Madrid — Emirates Stadium, London
Sunday, May 10 — West Ham — London Stadium, London
Monday, May 18 — Burnley — Emirates Stadium, London
Sunday, May 24 — Crystal Palace — Selhurst Park, London

Arsenal’s Champions League complication produces four games in 12 days, but Mikel Arteta has a five-day break before the West Ham trip and free weeks before Burnley and Crystal Palace. Arsenal also remain in London for May unless they reach the Champions League final in Budapest after the league season.

Chelsea’s remaining fixtures are:

Monday, May 4 — Nottingham Forest — Stamford Bridge, London
Saturday, May 9 — Liverpool — Anfield, Liverpool
Saturday, May 16 — Man City (FA Cup final) — Wembley Stadium, London
Tuesday, May 19 — Tottenham — Stamford Bridge, London
Sunday, May 24 — Sunderland — Stadium of Light, Sunderland

Chelsea’s hopes of Champions League qualification remain alive under a specific condition. Should Aston Villa slip into fifth place and win the Europa League, the team which finishes sixth in the Premier League would also get a spot at the continental top table.

Andoni Iraola confirmed he will leave Bournemouth at the end of the season, a decision announced in mid-April. A coach formed in the Marcelo Bielsa school, Iraola is defined more by principles than a rigid formation, but his sides have typically set up in a 4-2-3-1. That framework, plus his appetite for aggressive man-to-man pressing and a direct approach in possession, explains why he has emerged as a candidate for clubs seeking intensity and structure.

Iraola’s Bournemouth teams press to suffocate opponents in wide areas and to produce moments in transition. In possession they are direct: strikers run channels, a chief progressive passer is charged with turning defence around, and ball-carrying is encouraged so play moves forward quickly. A young Chelsea squad could suit that high-octane model, though the club are also keen to add more experienced star talent this summer.

Goalkeeper: James Trafford is set to leave Manchester City this summer with several clubs interested. Robert Sánchez remains upgradeable, and Chelsea are unlikely to pursue Mike Maignan again after he penned a contract extension with Milan earlier this year. If Chelsea can promise Trafford a starting role they may win a competitive race.

Right-back: Reece James, the club captain, offers versatility and an impressive passing range. He could be used in midfield, but Iraola may value him at right-back to release his passing from deeper positions.

Centre-backs: Trevoh Chalobah has been Chelsea’s most reliable defensive option this season and could be retained while the club looks to improve the position. Marcos Senesi is available on a free transfer and stands out as an experienced, left-footed passer from the back who impressed under Iraola at Bournemouth.

Left-back: Levi Colwill is close to a full recovery from the ACL tear he suffered last summer and might make a handful of appearances during Calum McFarlane’s interim spell. Mauricio Pochettino used Colwill as a left-back, and Iraola is not drastically different stylistically, especially in possession. If Marc Cucurella leaves, Colwill could emerge as an option.

Midfield and attack: Moisés Caicedo would provide the tone in midfield Iraola values, while Alex Scott’s energy fits that midfield profile. On the right, Pedro Neto offers enthusiasm, though availability will depend on Estêvão’s recovery. Cole Palmer could flourish in an attacking midfield No.10 role with greater freedom.

Several clubs are preparing for a summer tussle to sign Anthony Gordon, with Chelsea identified by The Athletic as the latest contender. The move would be part of a wider summer clear-out at Newcastle as the club plans to rebuild ahead of the 2026–27 season.

Newcastle are said to be considering early sales to allow time to recruit replacements. Yoane Wissa has been linked with an exit barely 12 months after his £55 million ($74.4 million) move. Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimarães are also reported as assets the Tynesiders could part with, but Gordon is presently viewed as the most likely to leave.

Gordon arrived at St James’ Park in 2023 for £40 million ($54 million) from Everton, and Newcastle are reportedly confident they can sell him for a profit. The Magpies, currently 14th in the Premier League table, could demand as much as £75 million ($101 million) for their leading scorer.

Arsenal, Liverpool and Bayern Munich have all been linked with Gordon. Chelsea’s interest comes amid criticism of their transfer strategy and comments from co-owner Behdad Eghbali that the club may shift toward signing more “ready-made” stars. A reported transfer for Gordon would address Chelsea’s stock of wide players and a particular need down the left, but the club’s pursuit is said to be conditional on Champions League qualification.

Qualification appears unlikely at present, although a sixth-place finish would qualify in the event Aston Villa win the Europa League. There was scepticism when Newcastle invested heavily to sign Gordon three years ago, and there is surprise at the level of interest now.

Gordon produced 21 Premier League goal contributions in his first full season at St James’ Park, though his domestic productivity has since declined. He scored 10 times in the Champions League this season and was among the competition’s top scorers at the time of Newcastle’s round of 16 exit. He can be inconsistent in front of goal, with much of his ruthlessness this calendar year saved for 45 minutes in Baku, but clubs admire his relentlessness in all phases, his willingness to penetrate behind defenses and the work he does out of possession.

England manager Thomas Tuchel has previously been effusive in his praise: “He [Gordon] is a direct player, I think this is his biggest strength, to go direct and go again and again,” the German said last October (via FanSided ).