Nico Gonzalez told he can leave City as Newcastle circle
Nico Gonzalez has been informed he can leave Manchester City, according to Craig Hope of the Daily Mail, with Newcastle United maintaining a strong interest in the Spanish midfielder.
The news lands at an awkward moment for City, who are already short of midfield options ahead of the 2026-27 Premier League season getting under way this weekend. Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders left earlier this week, and Bernardo Silva departed when his contract expired at the end of the 2025-26 season. The squad that faces Bournemouth will lean on Elliot Anderson, Mateo Kovacic, Rico Lewis, Nico O'Reilly, Phil Foden, Nico Gonzalez and Rayan Cherki.
Gonzalez, it seems, is becoming open to the move to St James' Park. Some of his City teammates are trying to convince him to shun Newcastle's interest and stay.
He held down the fort superbly well while Rodri was out last season playing in Rodri's role.
That makes the situation a little odd. Gonzalez is the only number six in Enzo Maresca's squad, yet the manager appears to prefer Mateo Kovacic in that position. If the club is willing to let him go, they are effectively gambling on a midfield that already looks thin.
Whether Newcastle can get a deal over the line before the window shuts remains to be seen. City, for their part, might want to think about who plays in front of the back four come Saturday.