Pep Guardiola is set to replace seven Man City Treble heroes in the summer transfer window to make space for younger players.
Seven Man City Treble heroes could face the chop this summer with Pep Guardiola ready to replace senior stars.
The Citizyn’s Treble-winning squad wrote their name into the history books on Saturday night as they beat Inter Milan.
But for some of the stars, especially the senior players, that could be the last time they play for Pep Guardiola’s Blue Army.
There have been speculations over several senior members of the squad at the Etihad lately.
There is every possibility that not all members of the Treble-winning team will remain at the Etihad by August this year.
Pep Guardiola’s men understand that despite their impressive achievements, the Spaniard expects to see some new faces arriving.
Ilkay Gundogan, 32, recently agreed to remain at the club after their remarkable season and that is a huge plus for Manchester City.
Gundogan played a vital role in several of City’s games, he scored twice against Everton and Leeds in the Premier League run-in and also in the FA Cup final win over Manchester United.
Manchester City have however been reluctant in offering more than 12 months to Guardiola’s first signing of his City era.
Manchester City signed Gundogan for £20.4million back in 2016 and they know he can get a contract that might have an extended duration elsewhere.
Pep Guardiola-led City will hold talks with the German international in the coming days with the possibility of a one-year contract and the option of a further season likely to be offered.
Several top clubs in Europe such as Barcelona, Arsenal, his former side Borussia Dortmund and even clubs in Saudi Arabia are watching with keen interest.
Bernardo Silva, on the other hand, has two years on his deal and the Portugal international has asked City to consider offers for him for the past two summers due to his wish to be closer to his homeland.
Silva, 28, is more concerned about his lifestyle with the former Monaco man and Pep Guardiola is desperate to make him stay at the club.
Man City might also have to face a huge fight to keep hold of 32-year-old Riyad Mahrez too with a huge offer from Saudi showing up in the last couple of days.
The Algerian is one player that frowns at lack of playing time and lately, the City manager often starts him from the bench.
Should Gundogan and Silva remain at the club, then there will be a decision to make over England midfielder Kalvin Phillips, 27, who has struggled for game time in his first season with the champions.
Kalvin Phillips, who City signed for £42m wants to stay but is also worried about playing time, with 29-year-old Mateo Kovacic on his way to the club.
Manchester City have also released enough funds to spend in rebuilding their midfield this summer after missing out on Real Madrid-bound Jude Bellingham.
Pep Guardiola has also taken a keen interest in Celta Vigo’s Gabri Veiga, 21, which he intends to sign in the summer transfer period.
The Spaniard is also wary of defending and Joao Cancelo, who was sent out on loan to Bayern Munich in January could be sold.
Bayern Munich are not willing to take the £60m option to buy him although they may be interested if the figure is reviewed.
Laporte signed for Manchester City in 2018 for £57m and was a regular starter but lost his place in the side since Manuel Akanji’s arrival last summer. He wants to play more regular football.
Tottenham Hotspur have also shown interest in signing the defender same as a few clubs in Spain, and it would be no surprise if he moves on over the summer.
Should Laporte exit Pep Guardiola’s team, it will give space for a big money move for RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol, 21, whose price tag was placed at £80m by his club.
Kyle Walker is another player whose future is up in the air as Guardiola confirmed that he is not equipped to play the inverted full-back role perfected by John Stones.
Walker just turned 33 years old and Guardiola is most likely to allow his deal to wind down before making a decision next summer.
Former Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger, also agrees that Man City needs to add some younger players to the squad for next season.
Wenger, who won a Golden Premier League with Arsenal, said: “I must say, I was thinking: What do you now at City?“
“Do you go for a new challenge? Motivate yourself for a new challenge?“
“Or do you stay, take advantage of the credit and continue to develop this team?“
“They will lose important players. This team is not an old team but there are few young players. Apart from Erling Haaland, who is 22 now, all the others are between 23 and 32.“
“So two or three new players will need to change. They have to find same the quality again.”
Pep Guardiola has shown in the past that he does not attach sentiments when it comes to parting ways with big stars in his team.
Manchester City are still enjoying the Champions League triumph but once they are done, we would see which of the aforementioned players will remain at City.
