Toby Camplin: City Watch

If you missed last week’s edition of this column, you wont know that we have a new writer, that being myself.

I’m Toby Camplin, a lifelong Manchester City fan and passionate supporter, following the boys in blue across the country and Europe. Over the course of the summer and going into next season, I’ll be covering the lastest news on City as well as results and previews for upcoming games. With a new writer had to come a new name which led me to City Watch.

My plan for this column was to discuss England’s first Euros warm up game against Bosnia-Herzegovina in the hope that at least a few Manchester City players would be making appearances ahead of the Euros later this month. However, my plans were quickly ruined after Gareth Southgate didn’t start a single City player at all! In fact, it’s the first time since 1994 that an England manager has named a starting XI without a player from Arsenal, Man United, Man City or Tottenham, quite a stat. However, Jack Grealish has slightly saved my national team section of the column as he was substituted on in the 63rd minute and provided an assist for the second goal in a 3-0 victory, scored by Liverpool’s Trent Alexander Arnold.

Once the Euros and Copa America begin, I’ll have the chance to discuss in depth the impact Manchester City players are having, but for now I thought I’d take the opportunity to discuss a potential transfer for the blues in the summer. It’s hard to even say the words ‘new signing’ after such a successful season once again, but the senior members of the club always prove that no matter how good the team’s been, strengthening the squad is still seen as a necessity. 

With Bernardo Silva’s future in doubt once again this summer, an area that may be focussed on is the midfield. Last summer, West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta was the subject of relentless Manchester City transfer rumours. However, City seem to have switched their attention to Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes, who signed for the Geordie side in the summer of 2022. Having made 86 appearances for the Tyneside club, a move away to the Premier League Champions could be appealing, especially after the Magpie’s failure to qualify for any European competition next season. There’s a lot more speculation and I suspect some new signings to come which will all be covered by me here on City Watch over the summer. Until then, see you next week!