The renewal of the squad, the change of generations, and the restructuring of the club's long-term plans, which began after Abduqodir Khusanov joined the team on January 20th of last year, have not yet stopped at Manchester City. On the contrary, the "citizens" show that they will not turn back from this path, that they have begun to create new heroes in exchange for giving up big names.
Over the past year, a number of stars with many years of experience and significant contributions to City's golden age have left the club. In particular, names such as Kyle Walker, Kevin De Bruyne, Scott Carson, Jack Grealish, Manuel Akanji, Ederson, Ilkay Gündoğan, Stefan Ortega, and Kelvin Phillips have left the team. Reading this list alone shows how ready City is for major changes.
Interestingly, the club officials are not going to stop there. According to sources, another group of older players - John Stones, Bernardo Silva, Nathan Ake, Mateo Kovacic, and even the farewell scenario for Ballon d'Or winner Rodri - are on the agenda. That is, we are not talking about minor cleaning, but about a full-format "reboot."
Khusanov's transfer was initially considered risky
When "Manchester City" acquired Abdukodir Khusanov last winter, many experts assessed this deal as a big risk. Because it was about bringing a young defender to one of the most demanding teams in the world, in an environment of fierce competition and pressure.
But in practice, Khusanov proved that he has great potential. It was Khusanov who stepped onto the "big stage" during difficult times when the shortage of personnel and forced changes in the "City" defense increased: he played confidently, felt the situation, made a successful move in the battles, and most importantly - he instilled confidence in the fans that "this guy is ready."
At this point, it is said that the club's policy has also changed. Jud Noble, an expert at cityxtra.co.uk, writes that Khusanov's transfer marked a turning point in the Manchester City management's view on the transfer after it paid off. Now the club's sports department is mainly focused on young players capable of constant growth, defending the honor of the team for many years, and adapting to various styles and positions.
Jude Noble further reveals this idea using the example of the 2025 winter transfer window: at that time, Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis were acquired by Manchester City for a total of £62.9 million. This clearly demonstrates the club's intention to train young, promising defenders and turn them into the backbone of the main squad in the coming years.
Who will be the next "second Khusanov"?
And now another name is circulating in the market. According to "Timtolk," 18-year-old central defender Ruud Nistad is targeted as a new prospective player who wants to join the team after Hugo Viana and Pep Guardiola Khusanov.
After joining the main squad this season, the Twente player became one of the most promising young defenders in Europe. His performances are said to have attracted the attention of many elite scouting departments. That is, this is not just "observation" - big clubs are taking this boy seriously.
Previously, there were rumors that Barcelona, the Catalan giant, had shown the greatest interest in Nistaud and was trying to bring him to Spain. However, there are reports that the La Liga club, due to its financial situation, is unwilling to pay more than €10 million for the young player.
Here, another subtle point is emerging: it is said that Nistad himself was not fully convinced of the feasibility of the project proposed to him in Catalonia. Naturally, this situation increased questions about whether joining Hans-Dieter Flick's team would really benefit his career."
As a result, the doors opened for others. German clubs with extensive experience working with young talents, such as Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and RB Leipzig, are also taking advantage of this situation and have the opportunity to apply for Nice.
Big competition in the Premier League, big struggle
Nevertheless, it is emphasized that the English Premier League shows the strongest interest in the Dutch prodigy today. Specifically, BlueCo, Chelsea's owner, as well as City Football Group, a holding company that unites Manchester City and several other clubs, are keeping Nystad in the spotlight.
Tottenham, Aston Villa, Newcastle, Brighton, and Brentford are also monitoring the situation around him. It is said that some European clubs have sent scouts several times since the beginning of the season to check its stability.
What makes Nystad strong?
Despite making his debut for the first team only this season, Nistad was able to prove himself very reliably in the position of a left center-back. Experts emphasize his patience, mature thinking, and decision-making culture. These qualities are very important for a defender, but at 18, this level of "coldness" doesn't happen every day.
His contract with Twente runs until mid-2027, and the club is looking to sign a new, long-term deal. However, this might not be easy: the agents representing Nistaad's interests are well aware that leading European clubs are competing for the young star, and this means that both the price and the terms in the negotiations will be tightened.
In the end, the most interesting question is this: if Manchester City wins this fight, Ruud Nistad could truly become the "second Khusanov" for the "citizens," becoming a new discovery. Just as Khusanov emerges from the label of "risk" and becomes an opportunity - Nistad has the potential to follow the same path.
In short, City is entering an era where they don't buy big names and wait for ready results. They choose to build their own star, not a ready-made one. For fans, however, this process has one advantage: every season, a new character can emerge. And this series is only just getting heated.
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