Phil Foden, Manchester City and England’s star, is going through a difficult period in his career, suffering with form and fitness.
After being left out of the England squad, Phil Foden is expected to depart Manchester City in order to escape a nightmare scenario.
Foden, who is yet to make a City start this season, was not chosen by Thomas Tuchel for England’s most recent World Cup qualifiers and was told to “find the joy back in his game”.
He missed the June fixtures and has been dealing with ankle difficulties, however Foden has confessed that other off-field issues hampered what was a disappointing 2024/25 season by his standards.
Foden was rightly named PFA Players’ Player of the Year after leading City to a record-breaking fourth Premier League title with 19 goals and eight assists this season.
However, his quality fell for City last season, as they finished third in the Premier League and lost the FA Cup final to Crystal Palace.
Foden recorded seven goals and two assists in the Premier League, and despite scoring three goals in four games at the Club World Cup, he hasn’t had the best start to the new season, with City already losing twice.
Alan Brazil, speaking about Foden ahead of a big derby against rivals Manchester United, wondered whether Foden might have to go on with his World Cup spot under threat.
“I’m astonished he’s not playing right now,” he told talkSPORT.
“A couple of seasons ago, I thought, ‘What a player’. His energy levels and some of the goals he scored were incredible.
“Could Phil seriously miss out on the World Cup next summer? I believe it would be disastrous if he did.
“Let Phil go then, let him go – he’s too good a player not to be playing.”
Foden is a lifelong City fan who joined the club’s academy at an early age and has won every major honour in the first team. The 25-year-old’s contract runs until 2027, and Pep Guardiola has stated that he will never be moved at any price.
However, he has not played for England since March at Tuchel’s first camp, and several other offensive midfielders are in form at the same time.
Gabby Agbonghalor, a former Aston Villa and England striker, is unsure whether he will start for the Blues, as City has plenty of quality players in his position.
“He needs to get back to that sort of form for me to break into this England squad now,” said the coach.
“Because I just look at the alternatives they have, and I see [Eberechi] Eze. For me, he’s a starter at Arsenal.
Morgan Gibbs-White is a starter at Forest. Jude Bellingham is definitely a starter at Real Madrid. Cole Palmer is a starter at Chelsea. Morgan Rogers is a starter for Aston Villa.
“Phil Foden’s not a guaranteed starter at Man City now.”
Foden, who is back in shape, has an excellent opportunity to start against rivals Manchester United in Sunday’s derby at the Etihad Stadium. He’s scored six goals versus United in 11 Premier League games.
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