Credit: Imago

Harri Burton

Wed 20 August 2025 16:07, UK

Rico Lewis’ contract extension cannot be the final piece of business from Man City during the 2025/26 campaign.

‘I’ve heard…’ - Stefan Borson: Man City would accept Rico Lewis offer	'No affordability issues' - Expert: Guardiola call behind Nottingham Forest's Rico Lewis push	Man Utd, Liverpool and Arsenal working on 23 deals with two weeks until window closes

According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein (20 August), City are close to agreeing a new deal until 2030 with Lewis, who has been heavily linked with Nottingham Forest in recent days.

The 20-year-old full-back made his desire to stay, not only through his incredible performance against Wolves, but also when discussing his future with Pep Guardiola over the summer.

Despite falling below Matheus Nunes in the pecking order last season, he is still very much a popular figure in the group and deserves new terms at the Etihad as he heads into his fourth first-team season.

In light of the news, Football Insider has chosen three players whom Guardiola must secure on new contracts as soon as possible.

Phil Foden‘s 2024/25 campaign certainly left a lot to be desired, with the likes of Omar Marmoush, Bernardo Silva, and Ilkay Gundogan outshining him in the final third.

MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES

However, with 13 goals and six assists in 49 total appearances, some of his performances flew under the radar, seeing him become a scapegoat for what was an incredibly poor season for the Citizens.

The 25-year-old’s current deal expires in June 2026, having come through the academy during the 2017/18 season, and the star has never looked back since.

Given his talents on the pitch, it would take no time at all for another Premier League club to snap up his signature on a free transfer, with Arsenal being tipped to sign Foden over the summer.

Bernardo Silva has long been linked with an exit, especially after strong interest from Barcelona, but the Portuguese star has remained at the Etihad, even being given a brand-new role and purpose.

The 31-year-old has taken the captain’s armband for the 2025/26 campaign, and having played a key role across all competitions over the last few seasons, it would be a huge blow to see him leave.

(Credit Imago)

Guardiola continues to put his trust in the attacking midfielder, who can also deputise on the right wing, but with Silva entering the final 12 months of his current contract, City desperately need to agree a new deal to avoid unwanted upheaval next summer.

Rodri is the most valuable player to Man City, in terms of money and ability on the pitch, with the Spaniard often holding the squad together and playing several roles at once.

Coincidentally, last season was one of the worst in Guardiola’s entire reign in England, which coincided with Rodri’s lengthy spell on the sidelines following an ACL injury back in September 2024.

Rodri is an important player for Man City.

However, despite returning to the squad, fans have not been able to see him back to his very best, and the midfielder only has two years left on his current deal, which runs until June 2027.

While a long time remains before any concerns emerge, Real Madrid have already been alerted to his potential availability, so tying him down to a new deal seems almost imperative for the Citizens, albeit with lingering injury concerns.

John Stones, whose contract expires next summer, and Ruben Dias, whose deal expires in two years, could both be worth having their current deals extended, and so too could Ilkay Gundogan, given his experience on the pitch.

Related Posts


For more news relating to Arsenal, visit our sister site AFC Latest Live.