Txiki Begiristain will remain in charge of Manchester City’s recruitment efforts through to the Club World Cup, facing a series of high-stakes decisions. Even if his successor, Hugo Viana, begins transitioning into the role from February, Begiristain will oversee key calls on Pep Guardiola’s future, Kevin De Bruyne’s potential replacement, and handling Rodri’s long-term absence. There won’t be any gradual fade into the background before his contract concludes.
Despite Begiristain handling these pressing issues, Viana will still have plenty to sink his teeth into when he takes over fully. By mid-July 2025, the former Newcastle player will be the one welcoming new signings and shaping what could be a transformative summer for City.
City’s recent transfer activity has been relatively quiet compared to past years. The 2024 window saw just two major arrivals—Savinho and Ilkay Gundogan—while the previous season’s spending over £200m was offset by significant sales, with over £500m generated from outgoing players in the last three years. City’s policy of allowing players to leave if the right offer comes in has seen many first-team staples move on.
Guardiola, known for his preference for smaller squads, has to balance keeping his roster compact while ensuring it remains competitive enough to chase multiple trophies each season. Conversations between Guardiola and the board after the 2024 transfer window hinted at an agreement that a major overhaul could be on the horizon.
“Some years you have to be more active in the transfer market, sometimes it isn’t necessary,” Guardiola said. “I gave my opinion to the club, the club shared theirs, and together we agreed that maybe in the future we’ll need to do more.”
Midfield appears to be a priority, with key players like De Bruyne, Gundogan, and Bernardo Silva all set to be over 30 by next season. Should Guardiola depart, a new manager may push for an even larger squad overhaul to suit their vision.
While Begiristain will focus on ensuring City is in the best possible position for Viana’s takeover, it will be Viana’s reputation that is ultimately judged by the results of the transfers he oversees from 2025 onwards. If Guardiola’s instincts are right, the new sporting director will have the backing he needs to make an immediate impact.
