The 2023/24 season hasn’t even concluded yet for Manchester City, and already the attention is starting to turn to what comes this summer.
The majority of Pep Guardiola’s squad will head off with their respective international teams after the weekend’s FA Cup final against Manchester United, and four from City’s ranks have been included in Gareth Southgate’s provisional England squad for Euro 2024.
Running alongside this summer’s tournaments will be the transfer market, which is likely to keep senior figures at the Etihad extremely busy up until the Friday 30 August deadline. City have one of the best squads in Europe and given the success of this team in recent years, it’s unlikely that it needs major surgery.
Despite that, Guardiola has lost big players in recent summers that have needed to be replaced. Aymeric Laporte, Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez left big holes to fill ahead of the current season, in addition to Cole Palmer’s exit. Meanwhile, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fernandinho, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus left in the summer of 2022.
It’s not impossible that Guardiola faces a similar problem ahead of 2024/25 season and, as popular as he is with the City squad, players often grow fatigued by his relentless approach and the impeccably high standards he demands.
There’s every chance that some players move on this summer, to be replaced by several incomings. Ahead of what is sure to be a busy transfer market, we’ve rounded up 11 players who could leave the club this summer…
1. Ederson
Posted a cryptic social media last week which claimed 'no one understands but me'. Then news broke from Fabrizio Romano that the goalkeeper could leave this summer and complete a move to Saudi Arabia.
2. Scott Carson
The only senior City player whose contract is up at the end of the season. The keeper has signed one-year extensions in each of the last two summers and will either do the same again this year, or depart ahead of the '24/25 season.
3. Kyle Walker
Nearly left last summer and there's a possibility he moves on this year. But having started 30 league games in 2023/24 and taken on the captaincy, it's more likely Walker will remain at the Etihad for another season.
4. Sergio Gomez
After two years at the Etihad, Gomez is still a player Guardiola doesn't trust to start games. It's likely that if a sizeable offer materialised, City would let the Spaniard leave.