Manchester City’s early 2026 summer transfer window plans revealed

Hugo Viana and Manchester City already have one eye on the 2026 summer transfer window, with two positions under assessment within the Etihad Stadium.

Planning for the next phase of Pep Guardiola’s squad rebuild has been rife over the last 12 months, with City’s recruitment staff aiming to stay ahead of a market that is expected to be highly competitive when the summer window comes back around.

Rather than reacting late, Etihad Stadium officials are proactively identifying pressure points across their first-team squad, ensuring that succession plans are in place well before the window opens.

Much of the focus stems from ongoing developments within the first-team, such as Bernardo Silva’s long-term future – which has been a recurring theme in recent seasons. Combined with growing scrutiny around the midfield and evolution, the summer window is shaping up to be one of strategic importance.

This approach aligns with Manchester City’s wider recruitment philosophy under new sporting director Hugo Viana; prioritising intelligence, player preference, and market leverage. Profiles such as Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton, and Atalanta’s Ederson have already underlined how far ahead City are likely to be when it comes to planning for the post-World Cup period.

Now, according to The Athletic’s Sam Lee, Manchester City are monitoring right-backs ahead of the summer transfer window, as well as a potential replacement for the long-serving current club captain Bernardo Silva.

Additional reporting from BBC Sport’s Sami Mokbel has stated that the club’s sporting director Hugo Viana will now target a new central midfielder in the coming months, with Nottingham Forest’s Elliott Anderson among the primary targets.

City will also reportedly want further defensive reinforcements should John Stones and Nathan Ake depart, though there remain high hopes for Vitor Reis, with the expectation he will be integrated into the club’s senior squad in the not-too-distant future.

Anderson has repeatedly been described in reports as City’s ideal long-term solution, with Pep Guardiola an admirer and the player himself – according to some claims – prioritising a future move to the Etihad Stadium.

However, Nottingham Forest’s expected £100 million-plus valuation could yet force City to simultaneously explore alternatives, ensuring they are not boxed into a single, inflated negotiation.

At right-back, Manchester City’s monitoring reflects Pep Guardiola’s concerns despite the excellent showings of Matheus Nunes this season, with Feyenoord’s Givairo Read among the names linked in recent weeks.