Welcome to the City Is Ours daily news round-up. The international break is over and Pep Guardiola's side are gearing up for their Premier League return.
The January transfer window is still a long way away but that hasn't stopped Manchester City being linked with a number of incomings and outgoings.
Raheem Sterling is one of those linked with a move away while Guardiola may have already located the England international's replacement...
Cornet out for City repeat
City fans will have bad memories of Maxwel Cornet from his time in France with Lyon.
The Ivory Coast international scored the opening goal in a 3-1 win as the Blues were dumped out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage back in 2020.
Cornet is in line to feature for Sean Dyche's side in their visit to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday and he's full of confidence ahead of his reunion with City.
"I have succeeded once more against Man City,” Cornet said as quoted by Lancs Live. “These are exceptional matches to play in, they don't come along every day."
The 25-year-old has scored four goals in his previous appearances against City and will looking to cause damage on Saturday with the Clarets out to cause an upset by picking up their first league win of the season.
City move for Barcelona outcast?
City are reportedly plotting a €30 million move for Barcelona misfit and former Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho.
Yep, you read that right.
El Nacional report that the Brazilian's profile fits what Guardiola is looking for and the City boss could help him rediscover the form that landed him a move to the La Liga giants back in 2018.
Coutinho has been plagued by injuries during his time at Camp Nou and has subsequently seen his value plummet. The Brazil international has only recently returned from his latest spell on the treatment table and has made four league appearances this term.
Newcastle are also said to be interested following their takeover, but a move for the 29-year-old seems highly unrealistic.
"He loves it there"
Speculation around the future of Sterling has dominated the back pages in recent days after he admitted he would be open to a move away having struggled for game time at City this season.
His Euro 2020 heroics saw him establish national hero status - a label he still carries in Gareth Southgate's side - but he's been unable to translate his form with the national side to Guardiola's team and has found himself behind the likes of Jack Grealish, Gabriel Jesus and Phil Foden in the pecking order.
“If there was the option to go somewhere else for more game time I would be open to it," Sterling said recently. "As an English player all I know is the Premier League and I’ve always thought 'you know, maybe one day I’d love to play abroad and see how I would come up against that challenge'."
Sterling's words certainly don't bode well for any City fans desperate for him to stay at the club, however, The Athletic's David Ornstein doesn't think his departure is nailed on just yet.
"I don't think he's speaking in a derogatory way of Manchester City, I think he loves it there and wants to succeed there and will continue there for many more years," he told Sky Sports .
"It's just not really going his way, he's 26 years old now and it's a crucial juncture in his career, it seems like he won't be signing a new contract unless his game time starts to increase."
Do you think Sterling's City career is over? Follow our City Is Ours writer Stephen Killen on Twitter to get involved in the discussion and give us your thoughts in the comments section below.
