Man City Talking Points: Tonali snub, Lewis exit and Bouaddi plan

Today’s Man City talking points: Tonali snub, a Rico Lewis exit and Bouaddi’s new role

By Gary GowersPublished 1 Jul 2026, 20:00Updated 1 Jul 2026, 20:13

A mixed one for City — one midfield target lost, one academy graduate ready to be sold, and a fresh twist on how a teenage signing might actually be used.

Sandro Tonali Tottenham transfer update

Tonali chooses Tottenham over City

Sandro Tonali has turned down the chance to join Manchester City, instead pushing to complete a move to Tottenham. City had been preparing a bid worth around €110m to hijack the deal and were reportedly ready to match Spurs’ £275,000-a-week offer, but Tonali is said to be adamant about playing under fellow Italian Roberto De Zerbi. Tottenham are now in the final stages of agreeing a fee with Newcastle, expected to break the £100m mark.

Rico Lewis could be sold, with Forest and Everton interested

City are willing to let Rico Lewis leave this summer if the right offer arrives, with Nottingham Forest and Everton among several Premier League clubs showing interest. Lewis has fallen behind Matheus Nunes this season, and City are understood to value him at around £35m, having already turned down roughly £26m from Forest.

Bouaddi being lined up as a right-back option

Manchester City are considering converting Ayyoub Bouaddi into a right-back if they complete a move for the Lille midfielder, with the position proving difficult to fill this summer. City remain undecided over whether to keep the 18-year-old immediately or loan him back to Lille for a season first, with Lille holding out for around £70m.

Anderson’s move is down to paperwork

Elliot Anderson’s club-record £116m move from Nottingham Forest is close to completion, with the midfielder having passed his medical while away with England at the World Cup. His arrival remains the cornerstone of Enzo Maresca’s midfield rebuild.

Read Man City verdict

Losing out on Tonali is a real blow given how far City were willing to go, but it isn’t season-defining with Anderson already close to being tied up. The bigger story longer-term might be Bouaddi. If City really do see him as a right-back rather than a midfielder, that changes how the Lewis situation should be read too, since it points to City covering that position through recruitment rather than retention. Expect more City-Everton crossover in the coming days if Lewis’s situation develops further.