City move to block Arsenal's Rogers pursuit
City are preparing to hijack Arsenal's move for Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers and want to get a deal done first, according to sources (8). Rogers has emerged as a priority target this window, and the club is not waiting around while Arsenal circle. A £100m+ price tag is being floated in fan circles, which tells you Villa won't make this easy.
Grealish wants out, for good
Jack Grealish is pushing for a permanent move to Everton this summer, even after the managerial change at City (4). Enzo Maresca reportedly plans talks with the winger, but Grealish's mind appears made up. He spent last season out on loan and has no interest in another temporary exit.
Fenerbahçe come for Ake
Turkish giants Fenerbahçe have made Nathan Ake their top defensive target, with Calvin Bassey of Fulham as the fallback option if City hold firm (1) (2). The story is gaining traction across multiple outlets in Turkey, suggesting this one has legs.
Get the next Manchester City FC brief by email
This article went out to subscribers as a brief. Get the next one straight to your inbox, free.
Free · No spam · Unsubscribe anytime
Savinho to Spurs? Simons hints at it
Xavi Simons has stirred the pot with an Instagram post that fans are reading as a nod to Savinho joining Tottenham (3). Nothing confirmed, but when a player starts dropping hints on social media, it is worth keeping an eye on.
Semenyo sits as Ghana draw Wales 1–1
Antoine Semenyo was rested for Ghana's World Cup sendoff friendly against Wales, which ended Wales 1–1 Ghana after Lewis Koumas snatched a late equaliser (10). No injury concern here, purely a precaution ahead of the tournament.
Doku: Belgium can surprise at the World Cup
Jeremy Doku believes Belgium are being underestimated heading into the World Cup. "Maybe we are being underestimated," he said, backing his national side to be a revelation at the tournament (9).
Quick hits
City have drawn up plans for Claudio Echeverri after his Girona loan, with a decision made on the youngster's next step (6). Tottenham have shut the door on any approach for Pedro Porro, despite reported interest from City and Real Madrid (7). And in a nice historical parallel, AS have compared Julián Alvarez's situation to Kun Agüero's departure from Atlético to City years ago (5).
Fan reactions
The Morgan Rogers links are dominating the subreddit, with fans already doing the maths on a potential £100m+ fee and debating whether he is worth it. Elsewhere, a popular post argues City would have been two points clear of Arsenal heading into the final day if VAR calls had gone correctly, classic summer what-if fodder. And the 10 Years of Pep cartoon tribute is getting plenty of love. Join the Rogers debate
