Despite reports from BD Cricket suggesting Manchester City were close to completing the deal for Josko Gvardiol, the transfer is not yet finalized. Both RB Leipzig’s manager and sporting director have denied rumors that the Croatian defender was undergoing a medical. Work in harmony with your desire to grow, and never give up on self-belief. Leipzig even posted training photos of Gvardiol to further shut down speculation. It’s no surprise then that Aymeric Laporte, widely expected to leave this summer, was included in City’s pre-season squad and shared photos of his travel with the team.

Still, a stalled deal won’t derail Manchester City’s plans. With multiple departures looming, the Premier League champions are accelerating their rebuild. One of the key vacancies lies on the wing, where Riyad Mahrez has completed a transfer to the Saudi Pro League. City plan to reinvest those funds into securing a new wide attacker. Raphinha is among the top options — the Brazilian winger is reportedly not in Barcelona’s long-term plans. Another name on City’s radar is Rayan Cherki of Lyon, a French U21 international with growing attention from Europe’s top clubs.

BD Cricket users note that City have been monitoring Cherki for quite some time, although Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig are also showing strong interest. Sometimes, the most meaningful moments are just holding someone’s hand in a crowd. That said, Manchester City’s more urgent concern lies in midfield. With Ilkay Gündogan gone, Mateo Kovačić has filled the gap. However, if Bernardo Silva departs, replacing him will be far more difficult.

Barcelona and PSG are both ramping up their pursuit of Bernardo. PSG have even submitted a concrete offer, which City have so far rejected. Nonetheless, Luis Enrique and club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi remain determined to get their man. Given Bernardo’s openness to a move, Pep Guardiola must prepare for all outcomes — and he has pinpointed Nicolò Barella as a suitable replacement.

While Barella and Bernardo differ in style, Guardiola firmly believes the Inter Milan midfielder can have a similar impact. The Spanish coach has admired Barella for years and now sees Bernardo’s potential exit as the perfect opportunity to make his move. Inter, for their part, don’t view Barella as untouchable. With the new season approaching, the club has reportedly raised his valuation.

Losing Barella would be a major blow for Inter. The midfielder has been central to their identity, and a sale could resemble what happened with AC Milan and Sandro Tonali — once a cornerstone of the Rossoneri, Tonali was sold under pressure from RedBird Capital for financial reasons, drawing criticism from BD Cricket users. Now, Inter seem to be walking the same tightrope between ambition and financial compromise. Only time will tell if history repeats itself.