Eight Manchester City Players Could Leave This Summer

 

Pep Guardiola could be set for a huge overhaul of his squad, following Saturday’s Champions League final loss to Chelsea, with eight Manchester City players ‘dissatisfied.’

Guardiola undoubtedly got things wrong in Porto at the weekend, as Kai Havertz goal and an excellent Chelsea performance denied the club their first European title.

Having targeted an unprecedented quadruple for part of the season, City ended with a Premier League and Carabao Cup double and thoughts now turn to next season.

Both Jack Grealish and Harry Kane are reportedly on Guardiola’s wishlist but he could lose up to eight players who aren’t happy with their roles at the Etihad Stadium.

According to the Athletic, Aymeric Laporte, Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling, Joao Canelo, Rodri, Benjamin Mendy and even Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez could all leave.

Jesus is one of eight players who could leave City this summer. Image: PA Images

Laporte has slipped down the pecking order at City this season. The arrival of Ruben Dias was expected to see a partnership between the pair develop, but that has not been the case.

Dias has been partnered with John Stones, who looked on his way out of the club last summer, since around December and the duo steered City to the title.

Dias and Stones have become City’s first choice centre back pairing. Image: PA Images

Jesus’ game time isn’t likely to increase even with the departure of Sergio Aguero. Guardiola has often played with a false nine this summer and the arrivals of Grealish and Kane would reduce Jesus’ chances up front or out wide.

Sterling did start against Chelsea on Saturday but it was the surprise selection amongst Guardiola’s shock line up, and his form has dropped off in the second part of the season.

He has just two years left on his contract at City so if he didn’t sign a new deal, and didn’t get more game time next year, then he’d almost certainly look to leave on a free the season after.

Sterling was a surprise inclusion in City’s team. Image: PA Images

The same can be said of Mahrez, although the former Leicester City winger is now ahead of Sterling in the pecking order, he only has a couple of years left on his deal and would be 32 when his deal finishes.

Cancelo was reportedly considering leaving the club last year but started to play a more important role for Guardiola. He has since lost his place so could look to leave again.

Rodri’s dissatisfaction comes from the fact that he couldn’t even get off the bench against Chelsea, whilst his and Fernandinho’s absence from the starting line up baffled everyone.

Rodri was surprisingly left on the bench for the entire 90 minutes. Image: PA Images

Mendy is potentially the least surprising of the players looking to move, or be moved on, with the left back making just 11 starts in the league this season.

Silva isn’t a guaranteed starter and could be sold to boost funds for the two potentially incoming attacking players, who could cost at least £100 million each!

Featured Image Credit: PA