Lohmann out after hip surgery
Sydney Lohmann will miss the start of the season. The Manchester City midfielder has undergone hip surgery, Kicker reports (2). No timeline yet on her return, but the club are preparing to be without her for the early weeks of the campaign.
Mbaye link has a Dias connection
Manchester City are watching 18-year-old PSG forward Ibrahim Mbaye ahead of a possible summer move (3). The connection runs through Jorge Mendes and Gestifute, the agency that also represents Ruben Dias. Matheus Nunes and Nico Gonzalez share the same agent. Villa, Spurs, and Leipzig are also in the picture.
Academy striker joins FC Köln
Reigan Heskey, son of former Liverpool and Leicester forward Emil, has left the City academy for Bundesliga side FC Köln on a permanent deal (4). He told the club: "I really wanted to join Köln to take the next step in my career. The discussions showed me my style of play fits perfectly."
Oyarzabal: I said no to Barcelona and City
Mikel Oyarzabal addressed the old links directly on El Chiringuito. "Can you say no to Barcelona? Yes, you can. Of course you can. Other players have done it," he said (1). "I'm very happy in San Sebastián. I consider Real Sociedad my home. I've always said I'm exactly where I want to be." City held interest previously, but the door was never open.
Fan reactions
Fans are split between admiration for the Rodri stat doing the rounds, 655 completed passes at the World Cup, the most ever recorded, and the mild irritation of preseason tour fatigue. One thread simply asks where the Haaland home kit went, a reminder that the new season's gear drop matters almost as much as the signings. Rodri thread | Kit question
