Manchester City

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

I watched the Tottenham v Manchester City draw, mostly with my mouth wide open in the second half as an abject Spurs, from nowhere, dominated City. My chin was on the floor for Dominic Solanke's genius equalising scorpion kick. However, my shock had also yet to recede following Spurs' opener.

It initially looked a good goal. Then the replay showed clearly from one angle, that Solanke had not kicked the ball, he had kicked Marc Guehi's foot onto the ball, which then put the ball in the net.

There is this rule in football which you might be aware of, you are not allowed to kick an opponent, you are supposed to kick the ball. Somehow the VAR thought it perfectly acceptable - what?!

Then an array of pundits, well the ones who spotted it, started to agree it was a perfectly good goal. I must admit I began to wonder if I was missing something, but I looked again and no.

Yes, strikers put their foot in between a defender and the ball to take a hit to win a penalty sometimes, but that is totally different.

On those occasions the forward initiates the contact deliberately. Guehi was going for the ball and got to it ball first. Allowing the goal may well be my least favourite VAR moment of the season, and that is saying something.

Sign up to read more from Pat Nevin in his Football Extra newsletter

Freddie Pye
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Given the extent of Manchester City's expenditure and rebuild over the course of the two transfer windows that preceded the latest winter market, you would have certainly been within your rights to forgive club officials for staying quiet.

But perhaps January showcased a fresh change in business operations at Etihad Stadium, as director of football Hugo Viana moved swiftly to snap up two of the Premier League's very best operators to take advantage of their respective contractual situations.

An initial £62.5m deal for Antoine Semenyo to bolster a faltering forward line and a £20m agreement for Marc Guehi before a summer that could see both John Stones and Nathan Ake depart - this was not a case of reactionary moves or panic-buying as Arsenal continue to command the Premier League title race.

This was a case of City planning ahead, bringing forward their business and perhaps crucially depriving rivals of two elite-level signings in the summer while also adding sheer quality to an ongoing season that still sees the club competing for four trophies.

Some fans will pick holes in the business, perhaps suggesting a new central midfielder should have come in or another winger, but the nature of the winter window means options are always likely to be severely limited.

A sensational few days of activity, but one that leaves the door open for assessment come the summer, and perhaps a clear message to the existing playing squad - don't perform and face the consequences in a few months' time.

Viana is not someone to take for granted and someone who can be ruthless in the market.

Find more from Freddie Pye at City Xtra, external

Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Newcastle at Etihad Stadium (20:00 GMT).

City won the first leg 2-0 last month.

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Guardiola confirmed Jeremy Doku returned to training yesterday, while Ruben Dias has not done so yet.

• Rayan Cherki picked up "a knock" in Sunday's draw at Tottenham and he will be assessed again on Tuesday.

• On the opportunity to make a final: "We have the chance to make our fifth final in 10 years in the Carabao Cup. I prefer to start 2-0 up but I know perfectly how many times we have played Newcastle - the pride they have. They are a Champions League team and it will be a tough game. We have to be prepared and play our game for our people, our fans and try to reach Wembley in March."

• Asked about City's January window, Guardiola - with a heavy hint of sarcasm - said: "Really good. I am a little bit sad and upset because net spend the last five years - we are seventh in the Premier League. I want to be the first. I don't understand how the club don't spend more money so I am a little bit grumpy with them. Good luck to the six teams that are in front of us in net spend over the last five years. Good luck, we are waiting."

• On Kalvin Phillips' loan move to Sheffield United: "He has trained in the last days because he was injured and he has to get minutes to recover to his best. He has to play, have some loans. Everyone is desperate for him to come back and play some minutes and be his best because he deserves it."

• More on how much Phillips has struggled at City: "It is true but most of the time it has been setbacks with injuries with knees and hamstrings and shoulders and ankles. He has struggled with that."

• Asked why his side have struggled in second halves this season, Guardiola said: "It is the reality. The second half we have dropped what we have shown in the first. It is the youngest side we have had in 10 years and maybe we need to live it and stop trying to do what we did in the first halves. We have to grow with that, definitely."

Follow all of Tuesday's news conferences, deadline day reaction and the rest of the day's football news

Listen to full live commentary of Man City v Newcastle on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds from 20:00 GMT on Wednesday

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City have been significantly worse in the second half of Premier League games this season.

Pep Guardiola's side have scored 21 more goals than their opponents before half-time, but just five more than them after it - mainly because of conceding just six goals in the first half and 17 in the second.

They have taken 93 more shots than their opponents in the first half - but just 18 more than them after the break [across 24 second halves of football].

Their expected goals [xG] difference is +16 in the first half of Premier League games, but almost zero in the second half, which means they have given up as many good chances as they have created after half-time.

Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City defender Marc Guehi is ineligible to play in Wednesday's Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Newcastle United.

City signed the 25-year-old centre-back from Crystal Palace after the first leg victory over the Magpies, but players have to be registered beforehand in order to be able to take part in the last-four tie.

Should City progress, the England international would also be ineligible for the final at Wembley on Sunday, 22 March.

Antoine Semenyo joined City from Bournemouth in January but was signed in time for the first leg, scoring in the 2-0 victory at St James' Park.

Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Kalvin Phillips' trajectory has stalled since joining Manchester City from Leeds for £45m in 2022 and he is looking to reignite his career once again.

He has played just seven minutes of football this season, back in September in the Carabao Cup at Huddersfield, and this would be his third loan move after spells at West Ham and Ipswich.

Still only 30, Phillips was a key part of the England squad that reached the final of Euro 2020, in which they were beaten on penalties by Italy.

He was named England men's player of the year in 2021, but won the last of his international caps three years ago.

Phillips has been training with the other City players, but clearly surplus to requirements for a long time now, and still has two and a half years left to run on his contract.

In February 2024, City boss Pep Guardiola apologised for saying Phillips was "overweight" on his return from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with the player later saying the comments were "a big knock to my confidence".

The writing was on the wall and Phillips has not had a look-in at City this season, despite injuries to midfielders Rodri and Nico Gonzalez.

He will be hoping his move to Sheffield United - 17th in the Championship - can help get his career back on track.

Manchester City fan Rachel Herdson believes Pep Guardiola's successor is already known among the club's hierarchy and says the Spaniard's body language suggests this could be his last season at Etihad Stadium.

"It's difficult to try to judge what is going on in Pep Guardiola's head - I've given up second guessing him," Herdson told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

"There was chat when [Enzo] Maresca left Chelsea that he'd been talking to the powers that be at City.

"They will have a successor in place already, whether it be Maresca, [Vincent] Kompany or [Xabi] Alonso. That's the way they operate behind the scenes - they are uber-professional.

"After Spurs, Pep was especially spiky to the media and I did wonder: 'Is that a man who has had enough and wants to walk away?'

"What I don't want to happen is it to go down the Arsene Wenger route where his last season is a disaster. That would be a real shame.

"He'll always be a legend and we want him to go out like that."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

Former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso is expected to feature on a three-man shortlist of potential successors to Pep Guardiola amid growing belief that this will be the Manchester City head coach's final season in charge. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Want more transfer news and gossip? Read Tuesday's full column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Manchester City have done the following business on deadline day:

• Midfielder Kalvin Phillips has moved to Sheffield United on loan for the rest of the season

• Winger Joel Ndala has gone to Sheffield Wednesday on loan until the end of the season

• Juventus have signed Manchester City striker Justin Oboavwoduo for £2.59m on a deal until 2028

This is your Man City page. Hit follow if you're on the website and you'll see more City content when you visit us. On the app? Hit the bell icon and select news alerts. We'll then send you the best bits.

Follow the transfer deadline day live text

Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Juventus have signed Manchester City striker Justin Oboavwoduo for £2.59m on a deal until 2028.

The 19-year-old leaves City's academy to join the Serie A side's Next Gen team - the Italian side's reserves.

Oboavwoduo scored five goals in six appearances for City in Premier League 2 this season.

City have included clauses in the transfer with a 25% sell-on if Oboavwoduo were to move on from Juve. There is also the option of a buy-back as well as matching rights in case of a bid from another club.

Watch Total Sport's transfer deadline day special from BBC Radio Manchester, discussing the business done by City and United, plus the area's EFL sides.

The show, which runs from 18:00-20:00 GMT, will offer the latest updates and analysis.

Watch it here

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips is set to complete a loan move to Sheffield United.

Phillips is out of favour at the Etihad Stadium and can leave ahead of the deadline.

The former England international has agreed a deal to Bramall Lane, where he will stay until the end of the season.

Phillips' only appearance of the season so far came as a late substitute in City's Carabao Cup win over League One Huddersfield Town in September.

Shamoon Hafez
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Kalvin Phillips' career has stalled after joining Manchester City from Leeds United for £45m in 2022.

He has played just seven minutes of football this season, back in September in the Carabao Cup at Huddersfield, and this would be his third loan move after spells at West Ham and Ipswich.

Still only 30 years of age, Phillips was a key part of the England squad that reached the final of the 2020 European Championship, where they were beaten on penalties by Italy.

He was named England men's player of the year in 2021 but won the last of his 31 international caps three years ago.

Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Norwegian midfielder Sverre Nypan has returned to Manchester City from his loan spell at Championship side Middlesbrough.

The 19-year-old had joined Boro in the summer and made 22 appearances.

City signed the player from Rosenborg for £12.5m in the summer on a five-year deal.

City say he will now return to Manchester where his development will be overseen by Pep Guardiola and the the club's first-team staff.

Image source, Daily Star and Daily Mirror

Former Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker says Manchester City were "guilty" of letting up against Tottenham and it cost them all three points.

Sunday's collapse in north London highlighted how City's second-half performances are becoming a growing concern for them, and might just end up costing them in the Premier League title race.

"The worrying thing is that they knew Arsenal won [on Saturday] as they put in a great performance away from home to beat Leeds and make a statement," said Reo-Coker on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"This was a game they should have put to bed in the first half because it was far too easy for them. City are guilty of taking their foot off the gas and that is something they will have to deal with because it's a worry.

"That second-half performance wasn't great at all and it made Tottenham look like they could win the game.

"Pep Guardiola has to be thankful for signing Gianluigi Donnarumma because if it wasn't for him then it would have been a different result."

Monday's newspaper back pages focus on Manchester City's slip-up at Spurs and how it has opened up the gap at the top of the table to six points.

Listen to the Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds

Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Championship strugglers Leicester City are in talks to sign Divine Mukasa from Manchester City on loan for the remainder of the season.

Midfielder Mukasa has broken into the City first team this season, making six appearances.

The 18-year-old may also sign a new contract at Etihad Stadium before a possible move into the second tier.

Leicester interim boss Andy King confirmed interest in the player on Saturday after the 2-0 loss to Charlton: "He [Mukasa] is a very promising young player.

"It's something the club have been trying to pursue. If we can get him, that's great news.

"We've seen a lot of him and we rate him very highly."