Man City backed to make U-turn and agree new contract with player lined up for exit - 'Pep Guardiola needs him'
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(Credit: Imago/Getty Images)
Alex Oakhill
Wed 17 September 2025 12:43, UK
Manchester City have been tipped to agree on a contract extension with one of their regular starters before the end of the season.
It has been a summer of change for Pep Guardiola’s side, who saw senior players like Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, and Jack Grealish leave the club.
There could be yet more exits in the coming year, as Bernardo Silva has been told there is a “contract waiting for him” at former club Benfica, with his current deal expiring next June.
However, on Monday (15 September), Football Insider exclusively revealed that Man City want to keep Silva beyond the end of the season.
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes Guardiola has realised he needs the midfielder’s experience.
Guardiola wants to keep Silva (Credit Imago)
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness insisted that Guardiola wants to ensure there is some stability at Man City, and therefore would like to extend the contract of Silva.
The 31-year-old has been at the Etihad since his move from Monaco in 2017, racking up over 400 appearances in eight years.
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Wyness added that Silva is a “core player” for Guardiola, as well as being a strong character and a good personality.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “I think Pep’s realised that he does need that thread of experience.
“Look, it’s very early in the season, but I do think Silva is going to end up staying for next season as well.
“I think Pep wants to keep some things the same, you know, rather than keeping on refreshing all the time.
He knows he’s got to keep that core, and I think Silva is that core for Pep.”
Meanwhile, Everton are reportedly planning to hold talks with Man City over the future of Grealish as plans are already being put in place to make his loan permanent.
Credit: IMAGO
That is according to former Man United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown, who claims that David Moyes‘ side want to negotiate a cut-price fee for the winger.
Man City and Everton agreed to insert a £50million option to buy in his loan deal, but it is currently considered unlikely for the Toffees to complete a deal at that price.
This comes as Football Insider revealed on 26 August that Grealish will have to take a pay cut to join Everton permanently and is now prepared to do so.
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