Former Aston Villa boss Dean Smith, who now manages MLS club Charlotte FC, is interested in a reunion with his former player Jack Grealish, who is on loan at Everton. However, the 31-year-old's wages could prove a stumbling block. (Football Insider), external
Fernandez pays visit to boyhood club River Platepublished at 11:34 GMT 12 November
11:34 GMT 12 November
Shamoon Hafez Manchester City reporter
Image source, River Plate
Manchester City midfielder Enzo Fernandez took the opportunity to visit boyhood club River Plate in Argentina in the early stages of the international break.
Fernandez came through the academy at River before going on to play in Europe and returned on Wednesday to meet club president Stefano Di Carlo where - sources say - the two discussed the club's current "sporting and institutional situation".
The 25-year-old shared a picture of the Monumental stadium on his Instagram stories, captioned "En Casa (home)", highlighting how much affection he holds for the place and also posed with a home shirt.
Fernandez is considered by River as one of their great success stories on the global stage, winning the World Cup with Argentina and becoming the first player in history to move for more than £100m twice.
The midfielder has helped generate around £47.6m in income for River through transfers and solidarity payments, going to Benfica in 2022 before further big money moves to Chelsea and City.
Fernandez reportedly said, external earlier this month: "I want to return to River, I have said this time and again, and every time I get the chance, I will definitely return.
"I wish for it dearly, and I will return at some point, it is something I truly wish for."
Sources say Fernandez has made it clear he is happy at City and has a long-term contract at Etihad Stadium, but a return to River would be a future ambition of his.
Argentina face Uruguay on Friday, before playing Costa Rica next Tuesday.
However, Barcelona are also keen on Ait-Nouri as 23-year-old Spain left-back Alejandro Balde could leave the club in the winter window. (Sport - in Spanish), external
Are Maresca's players affected by looming charges?published at 07:41 GMT 12 November
07:41 GMT 12 November
Shamoon Hafez Manchester City reporter
Image source, Getty Images
The ongoing international break will give Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca much-needed time to fix the growing issues in his squad.
The Italian made a dream start after taking over from Pep Guardiola in the summer, leading the club to a record seven consecutive victories at the beginning of the Premier League season.
But three consecutive defeats have followed as they have fallen six points adrift of league leaders Arsenal, who are looking in imperious form as they aim to retain their title.
In September, it was announced that City had been found guilty of breaking the Premier League's financial rules, and matches have continued as the club await the outcome of their appeal.
With possible sanctions hanging over them, is City's recent league form down to psychological issues or are there tactical problems Maresca needs to address?
In their first seven games of the season, City did not concede any goals because of individual errors - but that has shifted dramatically in the past three matches, with four mistakes from players contributing to goals.
City have conceded 13 goals after 10 league games - their highest total at this stage of a season since 2008-09, when they had let in 16 - and that has prompted questions about their defensive solidity.
Renowned sports psychologist Dr Paul McCarthy has 25 years' experience working in the industry with top clubs in England, Scotland, Germany and France.
Asked if the uncertainty over the ongoing appeal process may affect the focus and attention of players, McCarthy said: "Yeah, that would be a very reasonable human response.
"When people are uncertain about their future, that uncertainty leads to a lack of perceived control, so uncertainty is often more stressful than bad news and the research shows that.
"So while you are waiting and you don't know the outcome, you are uncertain of where you are and there is that lack of control for a lot of people - they come to training, they play their games and it's outside of their responsibility."
'Donnarumma - he needs a little pressure'published at 18:02 GMT 11 November
18:02 GMT 11 November
Media caption,
Manchester City fans have questioned Gianluigi Donnarumma's performances in goal following the club's third-consecutive Premier League defeat, with one supporter calling for the goalkeeper to be dropped.
City suffered a 3-1 loss to Nottingham Forest, with former academy striker Liam Delap scoring twice against his old club. The result left Pep Guardiola's side six points behind league leaders Arsenal.
Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester on whether Enzo Maresca has got his team selection right at City, former midfielder Jim Whitley and City fans Ciaran and Mark discussed the club's recent struggles.
Ciaran said: "The only way Donnarumma is going to get back to his best, for me, is by sitting on the bench and realising he's not been good enough.
"He needs a kick up the backside, basically. He has proper dropped his standards. He wasn't at fault on Saturday, but he has been in the last three or four games."
Jim Whitley added: "There comes a point where if your senior players aren't producing, you're going to have to change it. You're right in Donnarumma, he needs a little pressure and that he can't just sit there and be number one."
No error on Dunk handball in Brighton win at Man City - panelpublished at 12:48 GMT 11 November
12:48 GMT 11 November
Dale Johnson Football issues correspondent
Image source, Getty Images
The decision not to award a penalty for handball against Lewis Dunk in Manchester City's 1-0 defeat by Brighton has been narrowly supported by the Premier League's Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel.
The five members of the panel voted 3-2 to back the decision of on-field referee Craig Pawson and video assistant referee John Brooks.
Brighton had taken the lead at the Etihad through Yasin Ayari's goal in the 11th minute.
In first-half stoppage time as City looked for an equaliser, the ball came off both of Dunk's arms inside the penalty area.
The majority view of the KMI Panel was that "the ball struck Dunk on the thigh/arm before hitting his opposite arm, with his arms down by his side".
But two panellists felt Dunk "had enough time to reposition his arms given the distance the ball travelled", while adding that they "considered this a punishable handball".
Gusto open to Chelsea exit in Januarypublished at 10:18 GMT 11 November
10:18 GMT 11 November
Nizaar Kinsella Chelsea reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Chelsea defender Malo Gusto is assessing his options before the January transfer window.
The 23-year-old is away with the France team but has increasingly become a fringe option under manager Xabi Alonso at Stamford Bridge.
Gusto has not started a Premier League match for more than two months and has increasingly lost his place to Josh Acheampong at right-back, despite captain Reece James being injured.
It is unclear what Chelsea's stance is, but they were open to selling Gusto in the summer and set a £75m asking price for potential suitors.
Manchester City, now led by former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, were among the interested clubs, although it remains unclear whether they retain an interest.
Gusto made his 100th appearance for Chelsea as a substitute in the 1-0 defeat at Sunderland before the international break.
He joined from Lyon in 2023 for £26.3m and remains under contract until 2030.
'It's looking pretty rough for Maresca' - fan's viewpublished at 16:23 GMT 9 November
16:23 GMT 9 November
Image source, Getty Images
Manchester City fan Steven McInerney says Enzo Maresca's line-up decisions are beginning to "concern" him.
City dropped to third in the Premier League table after losing 2-1 to Nottingham Forest on the weekend, and Steven believes his side were "outfought" on the pitch.
"It's looking pretty rough for Enzo Maresca right now - that's the third league defeat in a row after such a wonderful start as well," Steven told BBC Sport.
"This one in particular stings. You can sort of accept Aston Villa, Brighton as well to an extent, but Forest started this game 19th in the table. They hadn't scored a single goal at home and they scored three against Manchester City.
"It was largely, well not largely, entirely self-inflicted. You can make mistakes absolutely but you can't be out-battled, you can't be outfought. Manchester City were. It was a really poor performance.
"Maresca you're starting to concern me. I understand early on in the season, second-half substitutions were changing the game, you didn't know your squad. But you do know them now.
"When the substitutions come on, the team get better but then three days later we see the same starting XI. What are the lessons we're learning here?"
Nottingham Forest 3-1 Man City - the fans' verdictpublished at 12:46 GMT 9 November
12:46 GMT 9 November
Media caption,
We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Nottingham Forest and Manchester City.
Here are some of your comments:
Nottingham Forest fans
Mossy: A brilliant all-round performance by Nottingham Forest and with Mr Marinakis in attendance it could not come at a better time for Oliver Glasner. On to Bournemouth after the international break and if we beat our bogey team it will be just about more pleasing than this result against Man City!
James: Wow! Where has that come from? Glasner's talk must really have got to the players, because that was incredible. Despite Delap rightly getting praised for his performance, can Jair Cunha get a moment of appreciation? Goal, goal line clearance, and did his part in locking down the City attackers. For me MOTM.
John: Superb performance. Delap will get the headlines but every Forest player was a success. Glasner's tactics were perfect. City couldn't get going because we didn't let them. Defence was solid, midfield worked going forward and tackling back, forward play was fast, fluent and effective. Everything that hasn't been going for us worked so well. What a confidence booster that must be.
Harry: A solid performance with three incredible goals to give us the three points we needed to jump above the relegation zone. There was a 15 minute period where City were all over us but we found our feet and responded with a spectacular goal from Liam Delap.
Sherman: Absolutely superb across the whole team. Everyone really turned up and we thoroughly deserved that win with three belting goals. Onwards from here. COYR.
Manchester City fans
Aidan: Don't understand how we can keep making individual errors at the back every match. Sloppiness is killing us time and time again and we look the most disjointed I've seen us in a long time. Maresca needs to find the answers FAST.
Mike: We only need a new back five, simple.
Ben: Both the manager and Fernandez need to get binned. No cutting edge, weak in midfield and no definite style of play. Kompany in as manager please.
Allison: We need a settled back four, chopping and changing doesn't promote confidence. In particular, we need to resolve the full back positions - I'm not convinced playing four centre halves is a good idea even if it keeps them happy.
Brian: Man City have run out of ideas and now run out of road. This was simply awful to watch and humiliating as a Man City fan. Lost in defence and lost in attack. The pressure of what has happened off the pitch is clearly impacting on the field of play. Players have lost pride in the shirt. This is a shadow of the team that started the season. Man City cannot defend and they struggle for pace and belief. What was all this big spend in aid of if they play as a team without ideas? This league is lost.
'Big questions to ask the manager'published at 09:00 GMT 9 November
09:00 GMT 9 November
Shamoon Hafez Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Rayan Cherki's stunning strike gave Manchester City hope but they could not turn it around at Nottingham Forest and the numbers following the result make for grim reading.
Man City have lost three consecutive Premier League games for the first time since a run of four in November-December 2024
They have become the second team in English top-flight history - after Sheffield Wednesday in 1904-05 - to win their first seven games of a season and then lose their next three
This was their first league defeat by two or more goals against a side starting the day in the relegation zone since November 2008 (a 2-0 loss to Bolton Wanderers).
Enzo Maresca was forced to chop and change his defence again, withdrawing both Josko Gvardiol and Marc Guehi at half-time because of injuries, according to the manager.
It meant Matheus Nunes came in at right-back, with Abdukodir Khusanov moving inside, and Nico O'Reilly playing down the left.
Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy told BBC Sport: "I thought City's performance was poor in terms of mentality.
"To make so many mistakes when you go anywhere in the Premier League, but especially to a team who are fighting for the lives, and you know they're going to come after you.
"They were sloppy with the ball, not winning duels. I would even probably go as far as saying there was probably a bit of arrogance at the start of the game from them.
"I think that there are now some big questions to ask the manager about how he gets them back on track. I think with the talent they have got, it is not going to be a big problem.
"But I think defensively, maybe sticking to the same backline for a little while is the way forward."
Manchester United made an approach for Manchester City defender Rayan Ait-Nouri, 25, in the summer and could make another attempt to sign the Algeria international in January. (Football Insider), external
Nottingham Forest 3-1 Man City: How the players ratedpublished at 20:39 GMT 7 November
20:39 GMT 7 November
Media caption,
Man City starting XI:
Gianluigi Donnarumma: Another game without a clean sheet, another three conceded. Aerially suspect too. Not having a good season. 4
Abdukodir Khusanov: Seems awkward when shunted out to the right, before being moved back inside. 4
Ruben Dias: A desperate lunge to try to block Liam Delap's goal summed up his - and his side's - poor display. 4
Marc Guehi: Part of a City defence that were all over the place in the first half before being hooked at half-time. 4
Josko Gvardiol: Not in great form at the moment. Soft on the ball early on when he had his pocket picked by Jair Cunha for Nottingham Forest's opener and was also substituted. 4
Elliot Anderson: Made an unhappy return to the City Ground where he lost the midfield battle. 5
Enzo Fernandez: A really disappointing performance. Should have pulled a goal back but sent his header from close range over. Midfield seems to lack in balance with him and Anderson in the side. 5
Jeremy Doku: Got no change out of Daniel Munoz and produced very little. 5
Iliman Ndiaye: Missed interception led to Forest's second goal and did not contribute much in attack. Not his best game. 5
Rayan Cherki: Pulled a goal back for City with a stunning finish in the second half. 6
Erling Haaland: Had some chances but not his best showing in front of goal. 5
Man City substitutes:
Matheus Nunes (on 45, Guehi): Failed to put a foot in on Delap for Forest's third. 5
Nico O'Reilly (on 45, Gvardiol): With Gvardiol shaky, will the Englishman be given a run of games in the side? 6
