Pep Guardiola is planning a major squad overhaul at Manchester City this summer, and we could see the departure of Phil Foden, amongst a few others. According to reports, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are both interested in signing the 24-year-old, with City open to selling him for around €150 million.
After a sudden slump in form, Guardiola is taking drastic measures to refresh his squad. City have already made several big January signings and more expected to join in the summer. The club is now looking to offload all the first-team players who have not lived up to expectations in recent months.
Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gündogan are both expected to leave at the end of the season, and now, according to Football 365, Guardiola is willing to cash in on Phil Foden as well.
These are testing time for both City and Pep Guardiola and it looks like no player is untouchable in terms of a summer sale.
Is Guardiola Right to Sell Phil Foden?
Phil Foden is a product of Manchester City’s academy and has been a key player for the club in recent seasons. Over 302 appearances, he has contributed 97 goals and 58 assists while winning six Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy.
Last season, Phil Foden was in exceptional form, making 39 goal contributions in 53 matches. However, this campaign, his performances have dipped significantly. He has scored seven league goals but has started only 16 Premier League games.
At 24, Foden is still yet to reach his prime, and most clubs would consider him an elite squad member. However, Guardiola is known for making bold decisions, and because he wants to sign Florian Wirtz as an upgrade, he won’t hesitate to let Foden go. Wirtz, currently at Bayer Leverkusen, has been in sensational form, and his contract reportedly includes a €125 million release clause. If City can sell Foden for around €140-150 million, they can easily fund Wirtz’s transfer without much financial difficulty.
Will Foden Choose Real Madrid or Bayern Munich?
Despite being a lifelong City player, Foden may have no choice but to leave in the summer. Bayern Munich could be a potential destination, but the German giants are also heavily pursuing Florian Wirtz and they will only consider a move for the City man if they are unable to get their hands on Wirtz.
Real Madrid, on the other hand, would have no hesitation in spending €150 million on Foden, especially with uncertainty around Rodrygo’s future. Foden’s ability to play both as an attacking midfielder and a winger makes him a perfect fit for Carlo Ancelotti’s system.
A move to Madrid would also allow Phil Foden to link up with England teammate Jude Bellingham, forming a dynamic and deadly midfield partnership that could dominate European football for the next couple of seasons. If given a choice, Foden might prefer Real Madrid over Bayern, because at the Bernabeu he would have the opportunity to develop further under Ancelotti’s guidance.
Winning trophies is obviously a big thing but that won’t excite him too much because Phil Foden has already won every major accolade with his boyhood club.
