Haaland, Foden, Lewis – how Man City squad could look in 2033 after Josko Gvardiol ‘decade’ hopes

Manchester City hope Josko Gvardiol can be a part of their defence for the next decade – so how could their squad look in ten years time.

Manchester City are considering the upcoming signing of Josko Gvardiol as a player who can improve their defense now and in the future. Gvardiol, 21, was one of Europe’s most sought-after centre-backs before City stepped in on Wednesday and agreed a £77.5million transfer fee for the Croatian. He will travel to Manchester this week for a medical before completing his move and joining his new team-mates in three-man defence.

So if Gvardiol is still at the Etihad in 2033, when he will be in his prime at 31, who else could be alongside him at City, and what could the squad look like?

Goalkeepers

Even though goalkeepers can play longer than their outfield teammates, Ederson would be 40 heading into the 2033/34 season – with his 30th birthday in two weeks time. It is unrealistic for the influential keeper to be first choice in a decade, although if anyone can do it, someone like Ederson would probably buck the trend.

So there will likely be a new-look goalkeeper department in 2033 – could the recently-departed James Trafford or Gavin Bazunu return to the Etihad in the coming years to become number one as they hope? Even at 47 in 2033, Scott Carson might still be third choice goalkeeper!

Defenders

Gvardiol will be 31 in 2033 and the current defenders include two more in their teens or twenties. Rico Lewis is considered another long-term project and would only be 28 years old, while Sergio Gomez would be 32 if he could turn the tide in his city. Of the oldest players, Ruben Dias would have been 36 years old and all his teammates were older than him.

Can Taylor Harwood-Bellis use his exit loan to secure a future starting job at City? Or will Gvardiol be one of many exciting players to join over the next few years to keep City Defense fresh and innovative?

Most likely only Gvardiol and Lewis could be sure that they would stay with City in ten years. As such, more transfers will be required in defense to replace players leaving or retiring.

Midfielders

City’s midfield is an experienced one at present, with Rodri the youngest of the starters at 27. It’s likely, then, that there will be few familiar faces in the squad in ten years time – but we could be seeing the end of Phil Foden’s career in the position he’s always been earmarked for.

Foden will be 33 at the start of the 2033/34 season and has already started to evolve into a central midfielder – as has Rico Lewis. Other current youngsters with midfield potential are Maximo Perrone (20), Cole Palmer (20) and James McAtee (20). Former midfielder Romeo Lavia (19) is in demand this summer, with City inserting clauses in his sale to Southampton to give them the option of taking him back in future, too.

Again, Foden is probably the only player of the current squad to still be at City in 2033, unless Lewis is permanently moved to midfield. Replacements for Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva will all be needed.

Forwards

The hope will be for Erling Haaland to still be at City in ten years time. His first year has been a huge success, with 52 goals and countless records and awards. He has not hidden his ambition to try as many leagues as possible in his career, but he does have a contract at City until 2027, and if he continues to score goals and feel wanted he may decide that the Etihad is his home. Surely he would have the all-time Premier League scoring record if that did happen.

Like Haaland, Julian Alvarez is also 23, so would still be playing in ten years. Academy prospect Oscar Bobb is 20, while last season’s under-21 top scorer Carlos Borges is 19 as he nears a move away (again with a buy-back option inserted).

Even if Haaland did stay, City would surely be looking for some younger forwards and wingers to stay on top of the competition, but the thought of another ten years of the Norwegian is an exciting one.