Let’s face it, it’s been hard to argue with much of the work done at Manchester City during the Pep Guardiola era, with the legendary tactician having overseen a stunning period of domestic dominance after claiming four successive Premier League titles.
Things have unravelled somewhat slightly this season, yet the Citizens still appear on course to claim a top-four finish, while FA Cup glory could also be on the agenda again come the end of the campaign.
That said, questions have begun to be asked regarding the club’s recruitment decisions in recent times, with a raft of academy products having gone on to shine elsewhere.
In the Premier League this season, Liam Delap – who departed for £20m last summer – has scored ten goals for relegation strugglers Ipswich Town, while in the Championship, former City stopper James Trafford has been a central part of a Burnley side who have conceded just ten league goals in 2024/25 to date.
Perhaps the biggest frustration, however, may lie in the decision to move on Morgan Rogers on the cheap, with it looking as if the club may well have repeated that mistake prior to the current campaign…
How much Man City sold Morgan Rogers for
Hindsight is a wonderful thing in football, yet Guardiola and co might perhaps have a tinge of regret regarding the decision to part ways with Rogers back in 2023, with the young Englishman having exploded since making the move to Aston Villa.
Still just 22, the midfield machine has already made two senior appearances for his country, while racking up a stellar return of 12 goals and six assists across all fronts. To put that into context, Phil Foden, for instance, has registered just ten goals and six assists across various competitions for Man City this term.
Likened to Real Madrid hero, Jude Bellingham, by pundit Jamie Redknapp, the former Middlesborough ace has dazzled since signing for Villa back in January 2024, with that initial £8m fee looking like a real bargain for the Midlands side.
Boro, too, may also be thankful for having made a significant profit on their initial investment, with Rogers having left the Etihad for a meagre fee of only £1m, after failing to make a first-team appearance for the club.
Formerly of West Bromwich Albion’s academy – which he left in 2019 to move to Manchester – the Halesowen-born starlet has certainly blossomed in his new surroundings.
The fear will be that the same might occur with another rising star, Kane Taylor…
Man City already sold the next Morgan Rogers
Losing the likes of Delap and Trafford – the latter of whom cost the Clarets an initial £15m – perhaps does not sting too greatly considering the sizeable fees that were raked in, hence the greater frustration regarding Rogers’ exit on the cheap.
Where Are They Now
Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.
That frustration may well be replicated after losing midfield starlet, Taylor, over the summer, with the 20-year-old having returned to former club Villa for a reported fee of just £750k.
A promising midfield talent, in a similar mould to Rogers, the elegant left-footer had originally left Villa Park for the Etihad as a teenager back in 2019, only to make his return to Birmingham back in August.
Player
Current club
Market value
Phil Foden
Man City
£117m
Cole Palmer
Chelsea
£109m
Michael Olise
Bayern Munich
£54m
Morgan Rogers
Aston Villa
£34m
Romeo Lavia
Chelsea
£34m
Rico Lewis
Man City
£34m
Brahim Diaz
Real Madrid
£29m
Jadon Sancho
Chelsea
£26m
Felix Nmecha
Borussia Dortmund
£23m
Unlike Rogers, Taylor has made a direct switch to the Midlands side from City, although he now has the chance to follow in his compatriot’s footsteps by making his mark under Unai Emery.
A first-team chance has yet to emerge for the versatile talent – who can also play at left-back or centre-back – although he has racked up 17 appearances for Villa’s U21 side this season, scoring once.
Described as a player who is ‘who is highly rated within scouting circles’ by The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell, the youngster also mirrors Rogers in being a ‘powerful midfielder’ who typically operates in an advanced central role, as per Man City’s website.
While the blow of losing such a talent has been eased by the presence of a 25% sell-on clause as part of the deal last summer, as Tanswell noted, it remains to be seen whether City will be left to rue their decision to let him go over the coming years.
Pep could unleash his own Chido Obi in Man City's 18-year-old "goalscorer"
Man City could well have their own teenage goal machine brewing…
1 ByRobbie WallsMar 5, 2025