City have told Nico Gonzalez he can leave the club as Newcastle continue talks over a possible transfer.
According to reporter Craig Hope, Gonzalez is open to the move, although some of his City team-mates have tried to persuade him to stay.
That is a notable shift from the position reported earlier this week, when the midfielder was understood to be intent on remaining at the Etihad and proving himself under Enzo Maresca.
Newcastle have three midfielders on their shortlist. Gonzalez is considered the leading option at present, but no agreement has been reached between the clubs yet.
Gonzalez now open to Newcastle move
He joined City from Porto for £50m in February 2025, when Pep Guardiola needed another holding midfielder during Rodri’s long absence.
The Spaniard never secured a regular place. He started only twice in City’s final 17 Premier League matches last season and now faces fresh competition under Maresca.
City have already spent £116m on Elliot Anderson, while Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi is also expected to arrive. The club have considered several other targets during the summer, including Roma’s Manu Koné, Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton.
There had been a case for Gonzalez staying after Rodri’s move to Barcelona. City’s recruitment suggests Maresca is looking elsewhere to rebuild the midfield, however, and the 24-year-old has now been told he can go.
The attempts by team-mates to change his mind suggest Gonzalez remains a popular figure within the squad. Regular football could be more readily available at Newcastle, where the departures of Bruno Guimarães and Sandro Tonali have reshaped the midfield.
Newcastle are still assessing alternatives, so a transfer is not yet close. Gonzalez’s willingness to listen has at least removed one potential obstacle from the talks.
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