Manchester City have agreed a deal to send 17-year-old English defender Stephen Mfuni on loan to Watford until the end of the season. (Fabrizio Romano), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column
Shamoon Hafez
Football reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesThere has been lots of talk regarding Manchester City in the January transfer window, following the signings of Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi.
Rumours have been circulating regarding a potential move for Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson and, if he was acquired, whether he would be seen as Rodri's successor.
There has also been talk of Tottenham being interested in Savinho, which has been another subject of several questions sent in via our Ask about Man City form.
Football reporter Shamoon Hafez took a closer look at both those potential transfers...
Anderson has enjoyed a meteoric rise this season, seemingly nailing down a place in England's starting XI for this summer's World Cup finals after his highly impressive performances for Forest.
That has not gone unnoticed by the "big clubs" in the Premier League, which includes interest from Manchester City, but they will have to shell out big money for his signature.
A move in this transfer window is highly unlikely as time is running out and Sean Dyche will be keen on keeping a player who will be integral to their survival hopes.
Circumstances could change in the summer and City will face a major battle on their hands to sign him but the January acquisitions of Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi showed their pulling power and ability to beat off any competition.
Anderson would provide another option in central midfield, with Rodri struggling for form and fitness and Nico Gonzalez playing in the number six role for large periods this season.
With captain Bernardo Silva's future unclear and his contract expiring in the summer, 23-year-old Anderson would plug that gap of bringing energy and drive in the midfield should the Portuguese depart.
Savinho is currently out injured and is unlikely to move in the final days of this window, with Oscar Bobb close to joining Fulham. The Brazilian would provide cover on the right wing for Semenyo, who has hit the ground running since his move from Bournemouth.
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Emily Brobyn
Fan writer
Image source, Getty ImagesJeopardy, it's a funny old thing.
When Uefa changed the Champions League format, it was hoping to breathe new life into the group stage of the competition. Predictable, stale, boring, fans said.
Teams could now face the best in Europe or a side new to the competition among the eight games played - with the aim of jeopardy up until the last kick of the ball on the final night.
It was a night where that decision really proved dividends. With so much at stake for the majority of the 36 teams in the competition, City knew that only a win would do to help secure their place in the top eight and avoid playing two extra games in the play-offs. Even then, qualification relied on goal difference - drama that played out after the final whistle at the Etihad Stadium.
Pep's men were good value for their 2-0 win. With Erling Haaland back on the scoresheet and a mercurial Rayan Cherki netting, both players benefited from Jeremy Doku assists during a first half where City moved with real fluidity and pace.
The intensity dropped after the break - and with the action elsewhere constantly shifting the goalposts for qualification, goal difference left the Blues praying for a Benfica miracle in Portugal. The tension was palpable - but nobody could believe what happened next.
Miracles don't come much bigger than goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scoring a header deep into stoppage time. The goal meant Benfica beat Real Madrid 4-2 - the implications of that secured the Portuguese club's place in the play-offs, condemned Los Blancos to the same fate but also secured City the final spot in the top eight. A staggering ripple effect for an unforgettably dramatic finale.
It also meant that Pep Guardiola owed Jose Mourinho a bottle of his finest red wine. The old adversaries have been the bitterest of rivals for so many years, but this was a night to make a call, send a text and say a heartfelt thank you. Two of the best managers the game has ever seen - their fate intertwined right up until the final whistle and past it. The jeopardy most fans and critics craved.
A sigh of relief for City - and onwards after two wins now to keep fighting in all four competitions.
Emily Brobyn is regularly on BBC Radio Manchester - find all their Man City audio here
Image source, Getty ImagesManchester City captain Bernardo Silva believes the "team has a lot of potential to be much better" than they are playing and are "growing every day".
Reflecting on qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League after a rocky league stage, Silva told BBC Radio Manchester: "It was quite dramatic at the end because we were depending on other results.
"At half-time, everything looked good for us with the other scores but it all came down to Real Madrid. We are happy that we qualified in the top eight as it means we have avoided playing two more games.
"That is good with the amount of injuries we have at the moment as the two weeks will give us time to recover and recover some players. It allows us to focus - for now - on other competitions as there's still a long season ahead and the schedule is really tough.
"It is clear that the club decided to go for a renovation of the squad. We had won a lot but maybe needed some new blood. They went for it and it takes time.
"I feel this team has a lot of potential to be much better than it is now, but we are definitely in a much better place than we were three or even six months ago.
"From the inside, it feels like we are growing every day and if we can get some of the important characters back from injury then this team has a lot of potential."
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We asked for your thoughts after Wednesday's Champions League game between Manchester City and Galatasaray.
Here are some of your comments:
Peter: The game was over at half-time, but we needed a third to be comfortable. That didn't happen and the end was a slog. Right result, but made a meal of it.
Harry: I am so glad we have managed to avoid the play-offs. That said, we are having a phase of only showing up in one half of the match. In the second half, Galatasaray didn't offer much more but we became so incredibly wasteful. Runs fizzled out and we refused to take shots and tried to walk the ball into the net. I was disappointed with Phil Foden, Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait-Nouri as they lacked any energy or finesse. Everyone else was brilliant, especially Abdukodir Khusanov. He doesn't get enough praise and deserves to be a starter.
Andrew: Dominant first half but stopped playing (again) in second half. Yet another bizarre performance.
Kevin: Actually quite a comfortable victory against a side that didn't carry a real attacking threat. In truth, it could have been more comprehensive, but that has become increasingly common this season. When City get their noses in front, control is prioritised and ruthlessness disappears. In the second half, we should have scored at least three or four more. Bernardo Silva was superb covering every inch of the pitch and constantly looking for the ball. A real captain. The back four were excellent and full marks to Khusanov.
Terry: Very lively first half for City. They moved the ball around faster than usual and looked up for it in all departments. And to top it all, Erling Haaland back on the scoreboard. Outstanding play by Jeremy Doku and Bernardo pulling the strings. A great day at the office for Pep and the boys!
Champions League pundits Stephen Warnock, Nedum Onuoha and Julien Laurens discuss Manchester City's 2-0 win over Galatasaray and how Jeremy Doku has "found his form again".
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Pundits Stephen Warnock, Nedum Onuoha and Julien Laurens join host Mark Chapman to bring you the action and talking points from Wednesday's dramatic league phase finale in the Champions League.
And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, speaking to TNT Sports: [Making the top eight] was the first target, being so tight.
We had many chances to score more goals. We could not do that and in the end was in the hands for other teams. We come back and try to improve."
On what he thought of the performance: "I think the first half was much better than the second and the second had more chances than the first. The second half still we are not at our best. We continue."
On tonight's formation: "I adapt to the players. If I have wingers, a false nine, maybe I play differently."
On Jeremy Doku: "It's a big miss [once he goes off]. Jeremy is an important player for so many reasons. We'll see."
On Erling Haaland scoring: "I'm happy for him. He made a fantastic goal, fantastic, fantastic goal."
On Rayan Cherki: "For the first season being here it is extraordinary. The numbers are really good. His composure, the way he plays, I'm really pleased."
Hear more from Guardiola on BBC Sounds
Did you know?
Since the start of December, no Premier League player has more goal involvements in all competitions than Rayan Cherki (11 - five goals, six assists).
Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesIn the first meeting between these sides, Manchester City exerted their authority from the off and there was no doubting the result once they went in front.
Their hopes of automatic progression had been in peril after being stunned in Norway last week, and they had to wait for almost 10 minutes after their match finished before their fate was confirmed as a draw for Real Madrid would have edged City into ninth.
Two first-half goals provided much-needed relief, ensuring City do not have to play an extra two European games next month - a hurdle which proved their undoing against Real Madrid last season.
Erling Haaland's early miss typified his recent form in front of goal, heading wide when under no pressure, but his cool finish on 10 minutes was a welcome return to scoring form.
It was just his second goal in his past nine games in all competitions - and his first in open play since 20 December - and a strike that set City on their way to an important victory.
It also allowed the 25-year-old to continue his incredible scoring record at home in the competition, with 36 goals in his 28 matches on home turf.
City will now wait to see who they face in the last 16 of the competition, playing one of the sides that will emerge from the play-offs.
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Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.
Get in touch with your views here
Come back to this page on Thursday to find a selection of your replies
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola makes four changes to the side that beat Wolves on Saturday for his highly-important Champions League game against Galatasaray.
Star man Erling Haaland returns to the side, but plays alongside Omar Marmoush in what looks like a 4-4-2 formation.
Rayan Ait-Nouri gets a start, while Nathan Ake and Jeremy Doku also come in.
Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo are ineligible so are not involved, Rodri is suspended after his red card at Bodo/Glimt, while Tijjani Reijnders drops to the bench.
Man City XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Khusanov, Ake, Ait-Nouri, Silva, O'Reilly, Marmoush, Cherki, Doku, Haaland
Turkish league leaders Galatasaray make two changes to the side that beat Fatih Karagumruk in the league on Saturday.
Ex-Manchester City winger Leroy Sane comes into the side, while the English side's former midfielder Ilkay Gundogan captains the team.
There is plenty of ex-Premier League interest in this team - former Fulham man Mario Lemina comes into midfield, while ex-Tottenham defender Davinson Sanchez starts in the heart of the defence.
Former Norwich player Gabriel Sara also starts, with ex-Leicester loanee Yunus Akgun on the bench.
Prolific Nigeria international Victor Osimhen leads the line.
Galatasaray XI: Cakir, Sallai, Sanchez, Bardakci, Jakob, Gundogan, Lemina, Sane, Sara, Yilmaz, Osimhen.
There are 18 games in the Champions League on Wednesday as the league phase reaches its climax and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.
Ajax v Olympiacos
Arsenal v Kairat Almaty
Athletic Club v Sporting
Atletico Madrid v Bodo/Glimt
Barcelona v Copenhagen
Bayer Leverkusen v Villarreal
Benfica v Real Madrid
Borussia Dortmund v Inter Milan
Club Brugge v Marseille
Eintracht Frankfurt v Tottenham
Liverpool v Qarabag
Manchester City v Galatasaray - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
Monaco v Juventus
Napoli v Chelsea- listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2
PSV Eindhoven v Bayern Munich
Pafos v Slavia Prague
Paris St-Germain v Newcastle - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live
Union Saint-Gilloise v Atalanta
Kick-off times 20:00 GMT
Follow all of the action and reaction here
You can also listen to 5 Live commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Napoli v Chelsea" or "ask BBC Sounds to play PSG v Newcastle", for instance.
Find out more about how to listen to football on BBC Sounds
There will also be a Champions League Match of the Day on BBC One on Wednesday, from 22:40 to 00:00.
Image source, Getty ImagesManchester City fan Steven McInerney believes former fan favourites Ilkay Gundogan and Leroy Sane returning makes their tie against Galatasaray a more interesting watch.
City need to beat Galatasaray to have any chance of leapfrogging three teams in the league and qualifying automatically for the round of 16.
Their spot in the play-offs is already assured.
But heading into the game, Steven believes that the return of their former captain and winger is what makes the fixture exciting.
"The interesting angle for me as a fan is Sane and Gundogan returning with Galatasaray," Steven told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.
"Gundogan, in particular, former captain and legend. It adds a bit of spice to a game that isn't guaranteed to go City's way.
"It's going to be an interesting night for us."
Steven added that he wishes new signing Marc Guehi was available for the fixture. However, the defender will not be able to register until the knockout stages.
"Guehi's debut was fantastic," Steven added.
"He's one of those players that you know is good, but when you watch up close you realise how good they are.
"He would've been brilliant against Galatasaray."
Man City are 11th and a win would only guarantee they overtake one team – either Paris St-Germain or Newcastle, who play each other.
They either need at least two other sides above them to slip up, from third-placed Real Madrid downwards, or to win by a bigger margin than two of Chelsea, Barcelona and Sporting. Manchester City's goal difference is no more than two goals worse than those teams but they're also the lowest scorers among the quartet so have work to do to ensure any tiebreak scenarios are in their favour.
City might only need to catch one of those sides if PSG versus Newcastle ends in a draw, as City would then overtake them both. As ever, there's a significant caveat to all this – Pep Guardiola's side need to guard against Atletico Madrid and/or Atalanta overtaking them on goal difference or goal scored.
Atletico are a particular threat as their goal difference is only inferior by one and they've scored three goals more than City.
A point could still be enough for City to avoid a two-legged play-off but, improbably, it would need at least seven other results to go their way, including – most likely – defeats for a minimum three of the five sides immediately above them. With PSG and Newcastle playing each other, only a maximum four of those five can lose.
It is possible for Manchester City to take the final automatic qualification place even if they lose but it would require a set of results too fanciful for even the most optimistic City fan.
Did you know?
This will be the first meeting between the sides and first time Guardiola has faced Galatasaray.
The last English team to beat Galatasaray in the Champions League was Arsenal in December 2014 (4-1) – since then, the Turkish side are unbeaten in three meetings with English opponents in the competition (W2 D1), including a 1-0 win over Liverpool earlier this season.
Image source, Getty ImagesKey Galatasaray players - Victor Osimhen
Osimhen joined Galatasaray in a Turkish record £60m deal last summer after a loan from Napoli. He became the fastest player in the club's history to reach 50 goals (59 games).
He scored six goals at the recent Afcon, helping Nigeria finish in third place.
He was long linked with a move to the Premier League and has scored an impressive six goals from six games against English teams.
Galatasaray squad summary
Galatasaray defender Metehan Baltaci was one of 1,024 players suspended by the Turkish Football Federation in November after a gambling investigation. Baltaci admitted placing bets as a youth player, claiming he did not know it was illegal and denied betting on his club's matches after joining the senior squad. He has since been formally arrested and detained.
Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesGalatasaray winger Leroy Sane has spoken emotionally to BBC Sport about what he described as his "true homecoming" as he prepares to face Manchester City on Wednesday night.
Speaking about facing City, he said: "I'll admit, when the draw came out, I hoped City might have already secured their top-eight spot by the time we met! But now it's a high‑stakes, crucial game for both sides. Facing them at the Etihad when everything is on the line for them? It doesn't get more intense than that."
Asked whether he remains in touch with Pep Guardiola and his former team‑mates, having left the club in 2020, Sane continued: "Absolutely. I've never truly lost touch with some friends at the club. I'm looking forward to seeing some old friends again on Wednesday."
Only Rodri, Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva and John Stones remain from Sane's final season in Manchester and he added: "It shows that at a club like City, evolution never stops. Legends like Kevin (De Bruyne) or Ilkay (Gundogan) moved on because sometimes you need a new horizon after winning it all. But make no mistake: at City, the pressure is constant. If you don't perform at the highest level every single week, the club is built to move forward — with or without you."
Sane says City's title parades remain "etched in his memory" and reflected on the pride he felt in winning Premier League Young Player of the Year during the 2018 title‑winning season — a moment he says marked when he "truly arrived on the world stage".
He described former manager Guardiola as "the definitive architect of modern football" and said the Spaniard "completely reprogrammed my footballing brain".
Sane added: "Pep shows you a different sport entirely. His tactical demands are relentless, but he didn't just coach me — he evolved me. I left his guidance as a far more complete player than I ever thought possible".
On his time in Istanbul, Sane said: "Istanbul is breathtaking. It's a city of immense energy and passion. The food culture alone is enough to make anyone admire this city. What is really incredible – the atmosphere at our home stadium especially during the Champions League games. The Super Lig is underrated in the rest of Europe. We've shown against top clubs like Liverpool and Atletico that we don't just participate - we can compete."
Galatasaray need at least a point to progress in the Champions League as they are sat on 10 points in the 36-team league phase.
The Germany international added: "In a 90‑minute fight, anything is possible. We know City are one of the favourites for the entire trophy — and also one of mine — but if we don't believe we can win, we might as well stay in Turkey. If we reach our best level that night, we can compete against anyone."
