Guardiola's dream XI at Man City: The new De Bruyne signs & Ederson axed
When one chapter closes, another begins, with Manchester City now preparing for their next phase under Pep Guardiola, following what has been a difficult season at the Etihad.
The side that romped to the treble just two years ago could well be ripped up in the near future, with Kyle Walker already out on loan at AC Milan, while Kevin De Bruyne looks set to depart amid his expiring contract.
Elsewhere, rumours are rife regarding Jack Grealish’s future at the club, while a new goalkeeper could also be on the cards, with Guardiola having alternated between Ederson and Stefan Ortega this season.
Having been left with something of an ageing squad, the Citizens have begun to look to the future with a handful of notable January recruits, with Vitor Reis (19), Abdukodir Khusanov (20) and Nico Gonzalez (23) all arriving as part of an extensive recruitment drive.
With Egyptian sensation Omar Marmoush also snapped up on a £59m deal, the squad evolution is already in full swing in Manchester, with it exciting to ponder what the starting XI could look like next season, with even more recruits brought into the fold.
1 GK – James Trafford
As pundit Jamie Carragher stated following the defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League, “we are at the stage with Man City where they need a new goalkeeper”, amid Ederson’s dip in form of late.
With the Brazilian also having just a year left on his current deal, acquiring a suitable replacement should certainly be a priority, with academy graduate James Trafford a potential pick amid the presence of a buy-back clause in his switch to Burnley.
The 22-year-old notably kept 12 clean sheets in a row in the Championship earlier this season, with manager Scott Parker stating that he has “absolutely humongous potential”. A reunion with City would be a welcome one.
2 RB – Achraf Hakimi
With Walker currently out in Milan, the onus is on finding a successor to the veteran Englishman at right-back, with Achraf Hakimi among the list of names to have been mentioned of late.
Formerly on the books at Real Madrid – having also turned out for Inter and Borussia Dortmund – the Moroccan sensation is a player of real pedigree, while at 26, he still has plenty of time left at the top.
The full-back’s strength particularly lies in his attacking quality having registered 11 assists across all fronts this season, ensuring he could be the man to deliver the goods to Erling Haaland and co.
3 CB – Abdukodir Khusanov
After overcoming a shaky debut against Chelsea, in which he gifted the opener to the Blues, young Khusanov has impressed in City’s backline, having caught the eye due to his physical attributes of late.
The former Lens starlet has clearly impressed his manager, with Guardiola having stated earlier this month: “The impact has been really good. We cannot demand for him to do something, like he still needs to do it. But defensively and aggression and the concentration is massive, it’s really good.”
The future certainly looks bright for the promising centre-back.
4 CB – Ruben Dias
Following the 2-2 draw with Brighton, City have now conceded 40 goals in the league this season, their worst record since Guardiola took charge back in 2016.
Improvements certainly need to be made, although Ruben Dias should remain as the bedrock of the side, having largely been something of a “man mountain” at the Etihad in recent years, as per former City defender, Michael Ball.
5 LB – Josko Gvardiol
Perhaps one of the easiest picks in this side, Josko Gvardiol has nailed down the left-back berth of late, having repeatedly showcased his attacking prowess after scoring five Premier League goals this season already.
While questions have been asked over his quality defensively, the Croatian should remain a mainstay in the backline. As The Guardian’s Ben McAleer stated back in May, the 23-year-old is the ‘perfect defender for a Pep Guardiola side’.
6 DM – Rodri
Oh how he has been missed.
Described as “irreplaceable” by his manager following his cruel injury blow at the start of the season, Rodri has left a sizeable void in the midfield ranks in 2024/25, with City having struggled to cope without their Ballon d’Or winning hero.
Yes, Guardiola may have found his “mini Rodri” in the aforementioned Gonzalez, yet when Rodri returns, the Spaniard will once again be the main man in midfield.
7 DM – Bruno Guimaraes
Previously likened to De Bruyne upon his move to Newcastle United back in January 2022, Bruno Guimaraes could be the new centrepiece of Guardiola’s midfield, having again been linked with a summer move to the Etihad.
The Brazilian machine – who has racked up 44 goals and assists in 144 games for his current side – was only recently a central part of the Magpies’ Carabao Cup triumph, although further silverware could lie in store if he leaves St James’ Park behind.
Capable of operating as a number six or as a number eight, the 27-year-old could represent the perfect partner to Rodri, having even been lauded as an “exceptional holding midfielder” in the past by Guardiola.
8 RW – Phil Foden
Football moves quickly doesn’t it? From finishing as the PFA Player of the Year last time out, Phil Foden has been far from at his best in 2024/25, with the Englishman’s last goal coming back in January against Chelsea.
Despite this recent slump, however, it would be foolish to write the playmaker off just yet, with Foden at his best still a shoo-in for this side.
Supported by the overlapping runs of a player like Hakimi, the 24-year-old could wreak havoc cutting in from the flanks next season.
9 AM – Omar Marmoush
In a season devoid of too many positives, the instant impact of Marmoush has undoubtedly been one reason for optimism, with the former Eintracht Frankfurt man having netted four goals from his first ten games in a City shirt.
A player who can operate all across the front three, the 26-year-old has found joy while operating behind Haaland of late, with that potentially a combination that could thrive even further next season.
10 LW – Jeremy Doku
From the days of Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez, the current crop of City wideman certainly need to deliver more, with Savinho and Jeremy Doku having scored just eight goals between them in all competitions this season.
That said, Doku, in particular, is a unique talent who is worth persisting with, having memorably run Trent Alexander-Arnold ragged in the defeat to Liverpool last month. If such dribbling prowess – which saw the winger beat his man on 11 occasions – can be coupled with an end product, then City will be onto a winner.