Winger Jeremy Doku is the latest Manchester City player to commit his future to the club after signing a new contract until 2031. Belgium international Doku joined City from Rennes for £55.4m in 2023 and sources have told the 24-year-old will extend his stay at Etihad Stadium, with an official announcement expected next week.
Doku played 48 times for City last season, scoring eight goals, to help the side win both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup in Pep Guardiola's final season in charge. He becomes the fourth City player to sign a contract extension this summer after midfielder Phil Foden and defenders Josko Gvardiol and Abdukodir Khusanov all agreed new terms.
Why does Nico Gonzalez want to stay at City?
Midfielder Nico Gonzalez says he wants to remain at Manchester City despite suggestions the club may be willing to let him leave after just 19 months. The 24-year-old joined City from Porto for £50m last January and has struggled to hold down a regular first-team place.
Gonzalez played 41 times in all competitions last season and scored a stunning winner in the FA Cup semi-final victory over Southampton, but he was in and out of the team for much of the campaign. So far this pre-season, Gonzalez has played in both friendly matches, against Inter Milan and the K-League XI.
“I'm happy here,”
said Gonzalez when asked about his future.
“I don't want to leave and I think the club wants me to stay. I haven't seen anything but I'm happy here.
“When I play I think I do a really good job. A good example was the semi-final of the FA Cup when I did a good match. Every chance I got, I tried my best.
“The final of the FA Cup I was out but we won so it was an amazing day for me. If we win, I'm happy. My dream is to win trophies.
“If I don't play any matches and we win the Champions League next year, I will be so happy.”
His comments came after reports suggested City might move him on, but Gonzalez made clear he is focused on staying and winning trophies with the club.
What is the latest on City's transfer window?
Approaching the second week of August and City have only signed one player, Elliot Anderson, who is likely to be in the first XI this season. The fee paid to Nottingham Forest for the England international is a club record £116m, with the 23-year-old seemingly a replacement for Bernardo Silva, who departed at the end of his contract and joined Real Madrid.
Teenage winger Jeremy Monga may be given playing time in the academy after joining from Leicester, while goalkeeper Pierce Charles and winger Mathys Detourbet both immediately went out on loan after joining.
New boss Enzo Maresca said on Tuesday that director of football Hugo Viana and chief executive Ferran Soriano had both travelled to South Korea, where the team are currently spending pre-season, and the Italian admitted “we need to something” in regards to transfers.
Though there is an acknowledgement that they have not been as active as they would have liked, senior City sources say they are “relaxed” about the situation and have full “trust” in their transfer strategy.
It has been pointed out that Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi were long-term targets and were signed in January, deals that were brought forward from this summer and both have made a positive impact.
The squad is seen to be “young” and “exciting”, one which claimed both domestic cups last season, with 20-year-old Brazilian Vitor Reis returning after a season-long loan at Girona and expected to be past of the first-team.
In terms of outgoings, Rodri is yet to sign a new contract and is now attracting attention from both Real Madrid and Barcelona, while fellow midfielder Tijjani Reijnders is likely to leave and has interest from Nottingham Forest.
Meanwhile, said last month winger Savinho is open to leaving the club with Tottenham exploring a move, yet nothing has materialised.
If there are departures from the club, the idea - as it stands - is to bring in a replacement.
There is interest in Chelsea's Pedro Neto, while talks are ongoing for Lille's Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi and Marseille goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli.
Despite the lack of movement, there remains an air of calmness around the hierarchy at the Etihad.
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Key Facts
- Jeremy Doku has signed a new Manchester City contract until 2031.
- Sources told the 24-year-old will extend his stay, with an official announcement expected next week.
- Nico Gonzalez says he is “happy here” and does not want to leave City.
- City have signed Elliot Anderson for a club-record £116m, while interest continues in Pedro Neto, Ayyoub Bouaddi and Geronimo Rulli.
- Rodri, Tijjani Reijnders and Savinho are among the players linked with possible exits.
