Manchester City have taken former Burnley goalkeeper Charlie Casper on trial, with the 21-year-old currently training with the club as a free agent. The son of ex-Manchester United defender Chris Casper left Turf Moor last month upon the expiry of his contract, and has since been attracting interest from a number of clubs.

Barnsley have also had him in on trial this summer. But the chance to come to City, sources say, was too good to pass up.

Casper was fast-tracked into the Burnley first team as a teenager by Vincent Kompany during his time as Clarets boss. The City legend rated him highly, which may explain why the Blues have decided to take a look.

First-team football has been hard to come by for the goalkeeper, whose spell in League Two with Grimsby at the start of last season saw him make just three appearances.

After moving to Alfreton in the National League North, he made 15 appearances, kept one clean sheet and conceded 24 goals. He could not prevent his side from being relegated.

Despite a thin senior record, City are prepared to take a chance on him. It is not the only piece of business involving young players at the Etihad this summer. The club have opened contract talks with 17-year-old forward Teddie Lamb, who finished last season as the Under-18s' top scorer with 25 goals. The move is designed to deter interest from rival clubs.

Two very different levels of experience, but both players are being looked at with the future in mind.

The agents of Rodri have held a secret meeting with Real Madrid this week, according to journalist Patrick Berger. The meeting took place on Tuesday afternoon at a restaurant in Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, and signals that the Spanish giants are serious about prising the midfielder away from Manchester City this summer.

Berger reports that Madrid's board have now decided to make Rodri one of their top targets and are prepared to offer a contract until 2030. There is a complication, however: club president Florentino Perez is believed to be against the idea, though his own officials are pushing regardless.

Rodri himself is said to be keen on a move back to Spain.

The 30-year-old is fresh from captaining Spain to World Cup glory in North America this summer, claiming the Player of the Tournament after a 1-0 win over Argentina in the final in New York. He came into that tournament with lingering doubts over his fitness after a stop-start campaign with City last season, continuing to build strength after an ACL injury in 2024.

No direct talks have yet taken place between Madrid and City. That will come as some comfort to Blues supporters, though the lack of formal contact between clubs is standard practice at this stage.

City have already moved to cover

City have already moved to cover themselves in case of Rodri's departure. The club secured Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest in a £116 million agreement earlier this window.

There is also strong interest in Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi, an 18-year-old Morocco international midfielder. Lille are demanding an eye-watering €100 million for the teenager, and City would likely want to bring him to the Etihad this season — though there are claims a loan back to the French club could be part of any deal.

Bryan King, who spent years identifying talent for Villa, told Football Insider that City will be the favourites to get a deal over the line for the 18-year-old, whose agent is the influential Jorge Mendes.

Mbaye scored three goals and provided two assists for PSG last season, making 10 league starts and 24 appearances in total. He initially broke into the first team during the 2024-25 campaign, scoring his first Ligue 1 goal in March last year. The Senegal international also featured at the World Cup, finding the net against France in the group stage.

His contract at the Parc des Princes runs until 2028, but he is reportedly pushing for an exit this summer. Interest has stepped up following Morgan Rogers' £117m move to Chelsea, a fee that has reshuffled the market for young attacking talent.

Mendes factor

Jorge Mendes represents Mbaye, and the super-agent's relationship with City is well established. Villa, by contrast, do not currently have a single Mendes client on their books, though they will hope to change that with Mbaye.

When a player of Mendes wants to move, he tends to know which clubs can get it done. City, so far, have been quieter on the Mbaye front — but if King's reading is correct, they are waiting to strike.

For now, the Blues hold the stronger hand. Whether they choose to play it before the 23rd August season start remains to be seen.

Vitor Reis and Phil Foden have both spoken publicly about their excitement as the Italian takes charge at the Etihad. Maresca, who previously served as an assistant under Pep Guardiola, returns to the club following a spell managing elsewhere.

Reis, who joined City from Nottingham Forest this summer, did not hold back in his assessment.

“Maresca is a great coach who has a lot of football knowledge. My expectations for working with him are very high.”

The defender’s arrival, along with the appointment of a manager who knows the club’s structure, suggests continuity remains a priority for the Blues. City go into the new season as FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders.

Foden, fresh from signing a contract extension that runs until 2030, offered a more personal reflection. He recalled Maresca’s role during the treble-winning campaign of 2022-23.

“So excited. Obviously, I’ve had Enzo before. When we had him in the Treble season, he was brilliant.”

The England international went further, praising the manager’s individual approach.

“His attention to detail, the small things that make a big difference, and even training with him at the moment, you can tell how good of a coach he is. I’m really excited to play under him and see where it goes. He’s so nice. He’s down to earth. He’s someone that you can go to and talk about anything to him, and he would help you out.”

Foden also highlighted the extra work Maresca put in during his first stint at the club.

“Even if you want to work on things to get better, he’ll do one-on-one sessions with you after training. And that’s something he did with me as well when he was here. I did small finishing drills with him and things like that, and he really grew my game.”

The early signs are that the squad is buying in. Whether that translates into silverware remains to be seen, but the mood around the camp appears positive.

Phil Foden's new deal was only announced on Wednesday afternoon, but the club's contract team are clearly not taking a breather. Two more first-team players are expected to follow the England international in committing their long-term futures to Manchester City.

According to The Athletic's Sam Lee, both Abdukodir Khusanov and Jeremy Doku are set to agree terms on new contracts that run until the summer of 2031. Foden's own deal is until 2030 with an option for an extra year, putting all three on broadly the same timeline.

Confirmation of Khusanov's extension is expected shortly. The Uzbekistan international arrived at the club less than a year ago but has clearly done enough to earn a significant commitment from the hierarchy.

Doku's announcement will follow later. The Belgian winger instructed his advisors to handle the paperwork while he was away at the World Cup with Belgium, with no intention of looking elsewhere. That suggests a player happy with his lot at the Etihad, which is always a decent sign.

Josko Gvardiol is expected to be the next player to formally sign on to a new contract at the Etihad Stadium, despite weighing up his options concerning his future earlier this summer.

The Croatian defender is expected to commit until 2031, despite reported interest from Bayern Munich and clubs in Spain. That would represent a significant shift from the uncertainty that surrounded his future just a few weeks ago.

The Rodri question lingers

All of which leaves the biggest piece of business still unresolved. Rodri, the World Cup-winning captain, is seemingly hesitant to sign City's contractual proposal — a deal that would make him one of the club's leading earners. Real Madrid are monitoring the situation closely, and given the midfielder's public desire to return to Spain at some stage, this one could run deep into the summer.

For now, though, the focus is on those who are ready to sign. Khusanov and Doku look set to be the next names on the dotted line. Gvardiol won't be far behind.

Enzo Maresca has been on the training pitch this week, taking charge of his first sessions as Manchester City manager. The players who returned early — those who missed the World Cup or didn't go deep into it, plus a handful of the club's younger talents — have been putting in the work ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.

The FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders are officially back in business.

Friday's unveiling

Come Friday, Maresca will face the media for the first time in his new role. It is expected he will update on the players who have trained this week and offer a glimpse into his plans for the side. Whether he goes into detail on tactics or philosophy remains to be seen — it would be a surprise if he did — but there is at least hope he provides some indication of what lies ahead.

There have been clips of him taking charge this week. Friday will be the first proper public viewing.

A different voice

One thing Maresca will not be in that press room is Pep Guardiola. Guardiola was larger than life in front of the cameras, charismatic and often fascinating to listen to. Maresca will bring his own presence, and how he handles the occasion is worth watching.

He has waited for this opportunity. He left his post at Chelsea last season because City came calling about succeeding Guardiola. Friday is the first step in making that decision public in a real way.

It does represent the first public viewing of a new era at Manchester City.

It is only a press conference. But it is the first of many, and it marks the moment the post-Guardiola era begins in earnest.

Manchester City confirmed this afternoon that Phil Foden has signed a contract extension keeping him at the club until the summer of 2030. The news arrived via the club’s official channels — a brief tweet on July 22, 2026 — but for anyone who has watched Foden rise through the academy ranks, it carries weight beyond the usual renewal announcement.

Foden is a local lad. That matters at a club where the connection between the terraces and the pitch can sometimes feel stretched by global ambition. He holds a special place in the hearts of City fans, not just for the trophies — and there have been plenty — but for the simple fact that he came through the system and stayed.

Speaking after the extension was made public, Foden said committing his future to City means everything to him. “Playing for this club is all I’ve ever wanted to do and it’s always an honour to wear the shirt,” he explained. It is the sort of line that can sound rehearsed, but coming from someone who has been at the club since childhood, it lands differently.

He acknowledged the scale of what he has been part of. “It’s not lost on me that I’ve been lucky enough to be part of a historic period with so many titles won,” Foden said. The numbers back him up: 20 major trophies since breaking into the first team, including the 2023/24 season when he was named PFA Player of the Year, FWA Footballer of the Year, and Premier League Player of the Season as City secured a historic fourth consecutive league title.

The contract runs until 2030. That takes Foden through his prime years at the Etihad, assuming all goes to plan. He thanked the club, staff, team-mates, and fans, adding: “I hope I’ll be able to repay you for years to come.”

For a player who has already given so much, that feels less like a promise and more like a statement of intent.

Rodri has added a World Cup winners' medal and the Golden Ball to a collection that now leaves no major gap. The Manchester City midfielder captained Spain to glory and was named the tournament's best player — an individual award that matched his influence on the biggest stage.

At 30, he has now won everything. Literally.

The Golden Ball, given to the standout performer across the competition, recognises a player who has been central to Spain's run. For City fans watching from afar, it was further confirmation of what they have seen week in, week out since his arrival at the Etihad.

There is no major trophy left for him to claim. Premier League titles, Champions League, European Championship with Spain, and now the World Cup — the list is exhaustive. The question, perhaps for Maresca and the coaching staff, is how to keep a player who has achieved it all still hungry for more when the 2026-27 season begins on 23rd August.

'He has completed football with no major trophy left for him to claim.'

Pre-season starts against Inter Milan on 1st August. Rodri will arrive back at the CFA with a Golden Ball in his luggage and the knowledge that his place in the game's history is now beyond dispute. For a player who arrived relatively unheralded from Atletico Madrid, the trajectory has been remarkable — but that is a story for another day.

Wednesday's Manchester City news round-up landed with five items, two of which — the Ayyoub Bouaddi chase and Phil Foden's contractual situation — received proper follow-up treatment. The other three were, in the main, background noise. One of them, however, involved a player actually leaving the building.

Matty Warhurst completed a permanent move to Northampton Town for a modest £100,000, with a sell-on clause built into the deal. The 22-year-old forward had been on the periphery for some time, and the move represents a clean break rather than a loan. Northampton get a player who, at that fee, represents low risk with potential upside. City get a small fee and a stake in whatever comes next.

Bouaddi and Foden dominate the remaining attention

The Bouaddi story continues to develop, though the round-up offered little in the way of resolution. Likewise, the Foden situation received the kind of sustained coverage that suggests something may be brewing — or at least that the club are keen to clarify the narrative. Beyond those two, the remaining items filled space without shifting the needle.

Pre-season begins against Inter Milan on 1st August. The squad will want some of these loose ends tied up before then.

Arsenal did not go quietly. They tabled competitive scholarship terms to keep a player they had identified as a key part of their long-term academy pipeline. Manchester United also entered the race. City prevailed anyway.

Another academy coup

Nduka, born on 3 April 2010, joined Arsenal from Charlton Athletic in September 2025 and made an immediate impression: 10 Under-18 appearances, two at Premier League 2 level, a UEFA Youth League outing, and seven England Under-16 caps. He will join City initially on scholarship terms, with a professional contract to follow once he reaches the eligible age.

The move is another sign that Hugo Viana's first summer at the club is delivering at both senior and youth levels. Enzo Maresca's arrival has done nothing to slow the long-term planning. City's Youth Cup win in May — a 2-1 final victory over United — and the sight of Nico O'Reilly progressing through the system to play for England at a World Cup provide the selling points. They clearly still work.

The 26-year-old, who joined the club's academy at the age of nine, has been one of the defining figures of the most successful period in City's history. His 369 appearances, 110 goals, 68 assists and 20 trophies — including a central role in the 2022-23 treble — tell their own story.

Negotiations had been ongoing since the latter part of 2025, according to sources, and the deal was finalised on the eve of pre-season.

'Committing my future to City means everything to me. Playing for this club is all I've ever wanted to do and it's always an honour to wear the shirt.'

The Stockport-born attacker also acknowledged the transition underway at the club. 'As many of the legends who were here when I first broke through move on, I am excited for the next phase of my career at this great club,' Foden said.

That next phase will be under newly-appointed manager Enzo Maresca, with whom Foden has previous. 'I can't wait to work with Enzo again,' Foden said. 'He was brilliant during the Treble season — someone all the players respected and loved working with. To have him back here is exciting.'

The Athletic's Sam Lee reports that Foden is considered a central part of Maresca's plans. The news comes as the club completed the signing of Elliot Anderson for a club-record £116 million from Nottingham Forest, suggesting significant squad reshaping is underway this summer.

Director of football Hugo Viana described Foden as a 'unique talent' whose 'creativity is a joy to watch', but stressed the player's work ethic. 'None of what he's achieved would be possible without the focus, dedication and humility to work hard in every moment and absorb all the knowledge available through our coaches and players,' Viana said.

At 26, Foden's best years may still be ahead of him. Viana certainly thinks so: 'His development is still ongoing, and we look forward to seeing the player Phil can become over the coming years.'

City’s search for attacking reinforcements could reveal plenty about the direction Enzo Maresca wants to take the team. The club have been linked with a number of young wingers this summer, including RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande, as they assess their options in the wide areas.

However, the need for another winger could depend on what Maresca sees in Savinho. The Brazilian arrived last summer with a reputation as a direct, dribbling wide man, but his first season at the Etihad was a mixed bag — flashes of brilliance interrupted by long stretches on the periphery.

Whether he is seen as a long-term starter or a squad player will shape the club's approach in the market. If Maresca trusts Savinho to take on a bigger role, the Diomande interest might be more about depth. If not, City could be preparing for a more significant reshuffle in attack.

And with pre-season starting against Inter Milan on 1st August, the clock is ticking.

City have reached an agreement in principle on personal terms with Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, according to journalist Nicolò Schira. The 18-year-old is understood to have accepted a contract that would run until June 2031, the clearest sign yet that the Blues' long-running pursuit of the Morocco international is nearing a breakthrough.

Talks with Lille continue. The two clubs have not yet finalised a transfer fee, though the personal terms deal suggests the gap is narrowing.

What Bouaddi would bring

At 18, Bouaddi already has senior international experience with Morocco and has broken into the Lille first team. A contract until 2031 — seven years — would represent a significant commitment from both sides.

Whether he arrives in time to feature in pre-season remains to be seen. City's first friendly, against Inter Milan, is on 1st August. The new Premier League season starts on 23rd August.