Despite winning the Treble last season, Manchester City might sell up to six first-team players this summer.
Pep Guardiola has frequently made adjustments to successful teams throughout his career in order to stay one step ahead of the competition. This season, he underlined the need to keep his players motivated and how challenging it was to play with the same intensity for several seasons in a row.
After coming back from two goals behind to defeat Tottenham 4-2 in January, Guardiola observed, “There is nothing from the stomach, from the guts. Today is a lucky day. If we don’t make any changes, though, we will eventually lose ground.
Naturally, I’m not [glad]! I can’t identify my team! Everyone on my team has always been driven and passionate about running everything.
The Catalan may end up selling half a dozen players in an effort to revamp his team, with many of them being connected with departures. According to a recent article from The Athletic, Joao Cancelo and Kyle Walker may both leave the team as Guardiola switches to using centre-backs as full-backs. Aymeric Laporte might also leave, according to the Manchester Evening News, as the Spanish international has played much fewer minutes this season.
Additionally, there can be change in front of the defenders. The contract dispute involving Ilkay Gundogan is well-known, and talkSPORT reports that the City captain’s future is still in doubt. Bernardo Silva, who plays alongside him in midfield, could still go as well; according to MEN, he wants to leave.
The Saudi Pro League reportedly made an offer to Riyad Mahrez, according to the Mirror.
This is before taking into account the potential of club youngsters like Cole Palmer, James McAtee, and Tommy Doyle, all of whom would fetch good prices if they were sold. When they sold squad members like Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling as well as a number of younger stars like Romeo Lavia and Gavin Bazunu during the summer transfer window last year, City actually made money.
Mateo Kovacic and Declan Rice are reportedly targets for City.