Manchester City is no stranger to seeing players come and go, with their transfer dealings being overseen by sporting director Txiki Begiristain. However, recent reports suggest that Begiristain will step down at the end of the season, and City have reportedly lined up Hugo Viana, the current Sporting CP director, to take over. Viana is expected to be responsible for managing the club’s transfers moving forward.
During Begiristain’s time at the Etihad, many players have passed through the club’s doors, either joining or departing. Now, according to one journalist, a former City academy player who left the club years ago may be eager to make a return.
Jamie Gittens eyeing a Premier League return?
Christian Falk, a journalist speaking to Caught Offside, shared some insight into the current situation surrounding Borussia Dortmund and England U21 winger Jamie Gittens, hinting at the possibility of a future move to the Premier League.
Falk noted, “Jamie Gittens is certainly no different, but he has his price. Dortmund won’t sell him in the winter, but if a Premier League club is willing to pay €100m [£83m], they will open negotiations and let Gittens go if he wishes to. Otherwise, they’ll wait and keep educating him with the goal of increasing his asking price.”
Gittens, who is under contract with Dortmund until 2028 and without a release clause, will need to continue proving his worth if he hopes to attract such a fee. Falk added, “I don’t know if he’s worth €100m right at this moment, but otherwise, he has to play another season at Dortmund and prove that he is!”
Falk also highlighted the appeal of returning to England for many players who began their careers there. “If you previously played in England, you always want to go back and prove you’re good enough for the Premier League,” he said. Gittens, like other former Dortmund stars Jadon Sancho and Erling Haaland, may see the Bundesliga as a stepping stone. “Gittens would be dreaming of going to a club like Liverpool or Manchester City – but he’s not cheap!”
Who is Jamie Gittens?
Gittens started his career in City’s academy, having joined from Reading in 2018. Two years later, he made the move to Borussia Dortmund’s U19 side, where he impressed enough to earn a spot in the senior squad. Since then, the winger has made 68 first-team appearances for Dortmund, netting nine goals and providing 12 assists.
This season alone, Gittens has already contributed four goals and three assists in his nine Bundesliga and Champions League appearances.
With Manchester City already boasting a strong lineup of wingers, it remains to be seen whether Hugo Viana, when he takes over transfer duties, will target Gittens as one of his first signings for the club. Gittens’ growing reputation and potential Premier League return will certainly be a storyline to watch in the coming months.
