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…
5. Joao Cancelo
A forgotten man at City, Cancelo has three years remaining on his deal at the Etihad but has spent the last two seasons on loan at Barcelona and Bayern Munich. After falling out with Guardiola, it's unlikely the Portuguese defender can force his way back in at City, so will likely leave again either permanently or on loan.
6. Kalvin Phillips
While Guardiola has insisted the midfielder has a future at City, the club are certainly open to the prospect of selling him. A disastrous loan move to West Ham United won't have helped his resale value, and Phillips has been linked with a move back to Leeds United.
7. Tommy Doyle
Has already agreed a permanent switch to Wolverhampton Wanderers, which will be completed on 1 July. The deal includes a 50 percent sell-on clause and a buy-back option.
8. Kevin De Bruyne
Has been linked with moves to both America and Saudi Arabia. But despite turning 33 in a few weeks, the Belgian is still running games and it's unlikely he's ready to leave the big stage just yet.