Manchester City

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

Image source, Getty Images

At first glance it doesn't seem like too much was wrong with Manchester City last season. They had the best attack both in terms of goals scored and expected goals, while they ranked second in most other major statistics.

But they were much worse than Arsenal defensively. Not only did they concede eight more goals, it could have been a lot more as City conceded 10 fewer than expected given the number and quality of shots they faced. Only Chelsea gave up easier chances to score on average so thankfully City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was one of the best shotstoppers in the league, with only Manchester United's Senne Lammens (6.5) preventing more goals based on the chances he faced than the Italian (5.7).

While City were obviously very good as they still finished second, only in 2024-25 did they take fewer points and have a lower expected goal difference under Pep Guardiola, so Enzo Maresca will hope he can return them to the elite level they played at for most of his predecessor's time in charge.

Manchester City have enquired about the availability of England midfielder Adam Wharton, 22, but their approach has been rebuffed by Crystal Palace. (Sun), external

Meanwhile, Manchester City are in talks to sign Brazilian winger Allan Elias, 22, from Palmeiras. (ESPN), external

AC Milan are now focused on signing a centre-back and Manchester City's Portugal defender Ruben Dias has emerged as a potential target. (Gazzetta dello Sport - in Italian), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

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Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

Image source, Getty Images

In the Premier League last season, 13 of the 20 teams finished with between 40 and 60 points - the most in an English top-flight campaign since 2003-04 (also 13).

Was the Premier League so competitive in 2025-26 because the quality of the 'lesser' teams got better or the top teams got worse? It is hard to know for sure.

Given how savvy clubs like Brighton, Brentford and Bournemouth are, the vast amounts of money that enable even bottom-half sides to sign the best talent from abroad and the Premier League's current dominance of the Europa League and Conference League, it would seem to be the former.

However, the fact that promoted play-off winners Sunderland were able to finish above 13 teams in their first season back suggests the league was maybe not as strong as we think.

What we do know is that whether because they got worse or their opponents got better, four of the sides that finished in the top seven in 2024-25 - champions Liverpool, Chelsea, Newcastle and Nottingham Forest - took 79 points fewer between them last season.

While Forest's decline was perhaps expected given their incredible seventh-place finish in 2024-25 and their journey to the Europa League semi-finals last season, the others were far more surprising.

Sunderland and Leeds smashed the recent run of promoted sides struggling to compete by taking 64 more points than the teams they replaced in the top flight.

As a result, this season will be a bit of an upside-down one in that Bournemouth, Brighton and Sunderland have European campaigns to navigate while Chelsea, Tottenham and Newcastle do not.

Will we therefore see a bounce-back to the more 'traditional' order in 2026-27 or are we truly entering a new, fiercely-competitive era of the Premier League?

Read more on the Premier League's competitiveness

Last season: 2nd.

This season: 2nd.

It is the start of a new era, with Enzo Maresca following arguably the greatest manager of the modern era, Pep Guardiola.

Huge players and personalities have gone in the shape of Rodri, Bernardo Silva and John Stones, so there is a real sense of transition at Etihad Stadium.

The Community Shield loss to Arsenal may have spooked some, but great players still remain - with the probability of more high-class signings before the season starts. £116m Elliot Anderson has already arrived and Morocco's brilliant teenage midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi is expected to join from Lille.

Most significantly of all, any side with the phenomenal Erling Haaland as its striker can never be ruled out of anything. There will be silverware.

• Read more of Phil's predictions

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

Image source, Getty Images

Teams in the bottom half of the Premier League in 2025-26 finished with more points than they had in years, meaning that judging them simply by their position in the table is perhaps a little harsh.

Everton may have been underwhelmed with their 13th-place finish but it was the most points a team in that position had finished with since the Toffees themselves in 1999-2000.

The points of the four places below them were all the highest they have been in the Premier League for 23 years and West Ham can consider themselves unlucky to have gone down with the highest points total for an 18th-placed side since 2010-11.

However, competition has come at a cost.

One place where the Premier League has become less competitive - because it has become more fiercely-contested overall - is at the very bottom.

While it is almost expected for one side to be cut adrift long before the end of the season, nowadays two sides are getting left behind.

The average points tally of the second-bottom side in a 38-game season is 31, meaning teams that finish there have usually competed in a relegation battle for most of the season before ultimately falling short.

After the Premier League was reduced to 20 teams in 1995-96, only two 19th-placed sides failed to reach 30 points in the first 21 seasons. But in the past decade, seven of the 10 sides to finish in that position have failed to do so.

In the past two seasons, promoted sides Ipswich and Burnley have both finished there with just 22 points - the fewest ever taken by a second-bottom side.

Relegation battles are now mostly a fight to see who takes the final spot in the bottom three, with the other two accounted for long before the final day - often by promoted sides.

But inspired by the survival of Sunderland and Leeds, promoted trio Coventry City, Ipswich Town and Hull City will all be hoping they have what it takes to match the competitiveness of the Premier League this season.

Read more on the Premier League's competitive numbers

Manchester City have identified Roma's Manu Kone as a potential signing, with the France midfielder, 25, having already been linked with rivals Manchester United this summer. (Mail), external

Tottenham are in talks to sign both Brazil winger Savinho and Egypt forward Omar Marmoush from Manchester City. (Athletic - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

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French football journalist Djibril Diop, speaking to BBC Radio Manchester:

"Ayyoub Bouaddi had one dazzling game against Brazil in the 2026 World Cup. After that, he faded a little bit.

"That's where I'm a bit cautious about how good he is right now. There's no doubt how good he will be in the future. Manchester City are paying for the potential. They are not paying for how good he is right now.

"His playing style would fit everywhere because he is a press-resistant midfielder. Once you have that durability, you can play anywhere and everywhere.

"He is suited to the Premier League, but he probably would be more suited to the Spanish league because of possession and how he operates in midfield.

"I still think he can make an impact at Manchester City, but I don't think he is going to make an immediate [one] like people think.

"His trademark move is taking the ball on the half-turn and basically progressing with the ball and beating his man with a drop of the shoulder. You can give him the ball in tight spaces, and he will worm himself out of it. The reason City is paying for such a young player is because he has maturity beyond his years.

"The problem with City is if a player doesn't work out in the first season, they seem to be in a bit of jeopardy, like what happened with Tijjani Reijnders and Nico Gonzalez. Will Man City give him room to make mistakes or room to grow? You have to be patient.

"Right now, City do a lot of outgoings, especially in midfield. It does seem he is going to be catapulted into a starting role and I just think it is too soon.

"This transfer is a bigger deal in the rest of Europe than it is in England because of the fee. In England, it is £85m, but in the rest of Europe, in the currency of euros, it is 100m euros for an 18-year-old kid."

Image source, Getty Images

"I have been incredibly privileged to play here and I have relished every minute of my time here," Tijjani Reijnders has said after departing Manchester City for Saudi Pro League side Al Qadsiah.

The Netherlands midfielder made 50 appearances for City, scoring seven goals and contributing eight assists, and helped City win both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup last season.

"From the very moment I arrived, everyone at the club made me feel so welcome and a part of the Manchester City family," Reijnders said. "I would also like to say a special thank you to the City fans who were so warm and supportive to me.

"To be a part of the squad that won two such special trophies last season were both incredible experiences and achievements that I will savour forever.

"I may be moving on, but I will always have a special place in my heart for Manchester City."

Director of football Hugo Viana said: "He more than made his mark across his time here. He impressed everyone with his talent, application, hard work and total dedication. He was the perfect professional.

"We thank him for everything he has done here and we wish him every success as he now embarks on the next stage of his career."

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters says the verdict on the more than 100 charges that Manchester City face has taken longer than expected.

READ MORE: Could history be rewritten? Guardiola, Man City and the 115 charges

Ciaran Varley
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Various issues were a backdrop for Manchester City's disappointing campaign in 2024-25, including the charges for alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules hanging over the club and Rodri's long-term injury.

Also, Pep Guardiola went through a divorce and there was media speculation about his mental state when he appeared with multiple scratches on his head and nose following a disappointing 3-3 Champions League draw with Feyenoord in November 2024.

While the former head coach does not admit to the idea that his personal struggles affected his ability to do his job, Manel Estiarte, a long-time member of Guardiola's technical staff, speaks about how he had to address players who were concerned by their manager's behaviour in a new Amazon Prime documentary.

"They were worried because Pep was anxious," he says. "He was sad. He was different. And only I knew the reason.

"And I said to the team, 'please, you have to understand, you're not playing with a coach who can be a bit impulsive, who can be a bit intense, who can be sometimes up and down. You're seeing a human being. He's getting a divorce'."

Guardiola himself broached the issue with his team during a Champions League loss to Juventus in December 2024.

"Guys, I want to confess something," he said.

"I'm divorced from the most beautiful woman on your planet, my wife, my ex-wife. I love her unbelievably, but we lost the passion. For many reasons, we lost the passion.

"I love her? Yeah, absolutely. She love[s] me? Yeah. But we lost the passion. How [do] you play football? Because you play over something inside. Where is the passion? In your life, whatever you're going to do, do it with passion. I don't want a good player, I want players with passion."

Alongside scenes where he obsesses over tactics, there are many where he gives candid speeches and berates his team.

Following a defeat by Bayer Leverkusen in November 2025, he tells his squad: "I work for you and I leave my life, my divorce and my family is away and everything for all of you. And what do you give back?

"The performance you have done, all of you. It's a disgrace guys.

"When I see that, I am exhausted, I'm drained, I want to quit. When you play like this, I feel alone."

Read the full article

Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onouha has given an insight into the humility of Rodri.

The Spanish midfielder has left City for Barcelona, signing a four-year contract.

Listen to Onuoha recall a story from City's Champions League win in 2023 below.

You can watch the whole Onuoha studio chat back in full

And listen to some of the discussion via BBC Sounds

Eli Junior Kroupi, Igor Thiago and Nico O'Reilly were among the breakout stars who made their mark on the Premier League last season - but who will be next?

BBC Sport's TV and radio commentators have picked 13 players they believe are worth watching out for over the next few months.

Manchester City's Ryan McAidoo is on the list...

Image source, Getty Images

Name: Ryan McAidoo Age: 18 Position: Winger Country: England

Guy Mowbray: What happens at Etihad Stadium this season is something of an unknown post-Pep Guardiola, but as Enzo Maresca assesses the riches he has available, he might just be impressed by the talent of the teenager recruited from Chelsea's academy.

The FA Youth Cup-winning winger looked at home with the senior players on City's Far East tour, with his chances of a regular place on the bench likely to be enhanced if, as expected, Savinho moves on.

Find the full list of possible breakout stars here

Newcastle have opened exploratory talks with Manchester City over a potential move for Spanish midfielder Nico Gonzalez, 24. (The Athletic - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

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