“I’m definitely ready” – Centre-back duo openly discuss Manchester City future | OneFootball

Two of Manchester City’s highly-rated central defensive talents have openly discussed their future at the Etihad Stadium ahead of the summer transfer window.

Question marks over a number of Pep Guardiola’s players are continuing to grow as the summer transfer window approaches, and first-team plans for the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup take shape.

The latest developments have taken place within the first-team coaching structure built around Pep Guardiola, with three departures announced by the club in Carlos Vicens, Juanma Lillo, and Inigo Dominguez.

That has left key decision makers to turn to the club’s Academy structure for reinforcements in the coach team, with Under-21 boss Ben Wilkinson and his assistant Craig Mudd set to travel to the US this summer for the Club World Cup – aiding with the integration of young players.

Two players that would be expected to join up with the wider group this summer are central defensive duo Max Alleyne and Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, with the latter having been depended on at crucial times by Guardiola during the last season.

Speaking to BBC Sport between the end of the 2024/25 season and the FIFA Club World Cup, both Alleyne and Simpson-Pusey have openly discussed their future in the game, and whether their next steps lie within the City first-team squad.

“We will see,” Alleyne said when asked what the future holds for him in terms of the senior game. “Hopefully playing for this club – there’s a pathway to the first-team from the academy,” he added.

“I’ve got to go away [on holiday], hopefully go on the Club World Cup trip and show the manager [Pep Guardiola] what I can do.”

As for Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, the Premier League 2’s Player of the Season said, “I feel like I’ve done what I’ve needed to do with the under-21s. I just want to play first team football.”

On whether such first-team football could be at another club away from Manchester City, the Huddersfield-born defender said, “I guess we’ll see [what happens]. That’s not on my mind yet.”

He added, “I’m definitely ready. I’ve not spoken to anyone about it. I’m sure some people will feel the same, especially after winning the league.”

Simpson-Pusey amounted an impressive 33 appearances across competitions for Manchester City’s first-team squad and youth groups during the 2024/25 season, ranging from outings in the UEFA Champions League and Premier League, to the FA Cup and UEFA Youth League.

Manager Pep Guardiola even revealed that he had considered starting the 19-year-old in the Manchester derby clash with United back in December – a game that City would ultimately lose 1-2 at the Etihad Stadium.

Speaking after the contest, Guardiola said of the teenager, “In that period we have, I want responsibility for senior players. The last game for example against United, I thought to put Jahmai – he could play like he played really good.”

Given the highly-rated nature of both players at Manchester City, it is more likely that either player would be viewed as loan candidates, although permanent exits must not be ruled out with favourable clauses expected to be placed into any such deal.