January 1 marks the beginning of the winter transfer window, drawing focus to potential new signings for Manchester City to address their injury issues. Pep Guardiola has secured a new contract, allowing him to initiate a rebuild over the next two years and ensure City can keep winning titles after his departure. A key factor in his success over the last nine years has been a core group of club legends, including Kevin De Bruyne, who was already at the club when Guardiola joined. However, De Bruyne’s contract is nearing its end, and he mentioned to reporters this week that discussions regarding a new agreement have yet to begin. He is staying composed about the situation and mentioned in November that he wants to resolve his injury problems before considering his future. However, waiting until the New Year allows De Bruyne to officially negotiate with other clubs about a summer transfer on a free deal. In 2024, he acknowledged that a substantial offer from Saudi Arabia would catch his attention if it was enough to secure his family’s financial future, although he denied having talks with any representatives from the Saudi Pro League regarding his future. Ilkay Gundogan, who came back last year after spending a year at Barcelona, is also without a contract. His performance has declined because he has been overused during City’s injury problems, and a decision will need to be made in the summer about whether to activate the extra year in his contract. Gundogan’s performance, fitness, and the overall condition of the City midfield will influence this decision. Similar to De Bruyne, he could potentially look into other contract options until the second year is activated. The last player whose contract expires in the summer is third-choice goalkeeper Scott Carson. The club usually waits until the end of the season to decide on extending the veteran’s contract before it expires. Guardiola appreciates his contribution in the locker room, but with Carson turning 40 at the beginning of next season, it might soon be necessary to consider a different arrangement for that position in the squad. Additionally, City has the possibility of providing the three players with short-term extensions to accommodate the FIFA Club World Cup, which takes place after the June 30 expiration dates of most contracts. FIFA has modified the regulations to enable clubs to retain players for the initial two weeks of the 2025/26 season, allowing them to complete the tournament without hindering their opportunity to join a different club the following season. This means that, in effect, De Bruyne, Gundogan, and Carson might consent to extend their contract end dates before departing on a free transfer in the summer if they choose not to sign new agreements.
