Manchester City are entering January with renewed optimism, determined to make 2026 a significant improvement on 2025. The Blues have put themselves in an excellent position to do exactly that, building momentum with an impressive eight-game winning streak that’s allowed them to pile pressure on Premier League leaders Arsenal in an increasingly intense title race.
However, as they head into tonight’s Premier League showdown with Sunderland, the Blues know that victory is essential if they’re to cut the gap to just two points. A defeat against the Black Cats would hand Arsenal a significant reprieve and mark the worst possible start to the new year.
But New Year’s Day brings more than just fixture congestion—it also opens the January transfer window, and several nightmare scenarios could potentially unfold over the coming weeks that would deal serious blows to Pep Guardiola’s carefully laid plans. With this in mind, MEN Sport has explored what a disastrous January could look like for Manchester City.
**Bernardo signs pre-contract agreement**
Much like the drama that surrounded Ilkay Gundogan’s initial departure, the early weeks of 2026 threaten to be dominated by uncertainty over Bernardo Silva’s future. Ask any City fan and you’d be extremely hard-pressed to find a single one willing to see the 31-year-old walk away.
The harsh reality is that January’s arrival means the midfielder can now legally enter pre-contract negotiations with any foreign club, which would effectively mark the end of the Portuguese maestro’s tenure at the Etihad.
Such a development would be devastating for City. Bernardo has been instrumental to the club’s recent success, and losing a player of his caliber and experience—especially on a free transfer—would represent a significant setback to Guardiola’s ambitions.
**Phillips stays beyond January**
Unfortunately for Kalvin Phillips, his 2022 move to City has proven to be a disastrous career decision. While the financial compensation has been excellent and he’s collected two Premier League medals plus a Champions League winners’ medal, he’s managed just 32 appearances for the Blues—a shockingly low return for someone in his third season at the club.
Keeping Phillips beyond January would be a lose-lose situation for both the club and the player. The England international desperately needs regular football to revive his stalling career, while City would benefit from freeing up wages and squad space for players who can actually contribute. A new year represents the perfect moment for a clean break and fresh start for all parties involved. Allowing him to remain would simply kick the can down the road, delaying what has become an inevitable parting of ways while everyone continues to suffer from an arrangement that clearly isn’t working.
