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PEP GUARDIOLA has suggested he may need to make considerable adjustments to his Manchester City lineup.
England players Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker, and Kalvin Phillips were left out of the 27-man squad announced for the Club World Cup by Guardiola.
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Credit: Getty
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Credit: Alamy
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Credit: Getty
Midfielder Ilkay Gundogan is among those rumored to be leaving, with Galatasaray showing interest, while Guardiola aims to create a more streamlined squad.
Guardiola remarked: “With Ilkay, no news is good news. I haven’t had a conversation with him yet.
“However, our squad is currently too large, with too many players. We cannot sustain 26 or 27 players this season, as that would leave many without game time.
“Gradually, some players might be on their way out.”
Guardiola stresses that the current number of squad members is excessive, even with the challenges of competing in the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup.
Since the beginning of the year, the Etihad manager has brought in seven new players, raising the number of outfield players to over THIRTY.
This means several players are expected to be loaned out or sold before the August transfer window closes.
Guardiola acknowledges that letting go of some players he would prefer to keep is difficult, yet necessary for those who rarely see playtime.
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The 54-year-old added: “I would love to keep our current players throughout the season. That would be ideal.
“I have no complaints about the players and their professionalism.
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“The concern is their dissatisfaction as the season progresses.
“They may feel let down, and I want to prevent that.
“For me, it’s not a problem. I prefer having more options rather than having six or seven players on the sidelines, just hoping for no injuries.
“That’s my approach. It’s for their benefit. We’ll see how things develop as the transfer window is open for a while.”
Young midfielder James McAtee, aged 22, is likely to leave after choosing to join the England Under-21s for the Euros instead of traveling with City to the USA.
Meanwhile, Mateo Kovacic’s future remains uncertain as he will be sidelined due to injury for the next few months.
Who stays and who goes at Man City?
AFTER a disappointing 2024-25 season, Pep Guardiola is reshaping his Manchester City squad. SunSport’s MARTIN BLACKBURN assesses the current status at the Etihad . . .
INS
New signings Tijjani Reijnders from Milan, Rayan Cherki from Lyon, Wolves’ Rayan Ait-Nouri, and former Chelsea goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli bolster the squad.
Remaining players include Stefan Ortega, Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake, Josko Gvardiol, Manuel Akanji, Bernardo Silva, Savinho, Omar Marmoush, Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku, and a fit Rodri, all determined to recover from last season’s struggles.
OUTS
Loyal player Kyle Walker, 35, appears to have played his last match for the club.
Jack Grealish looks set to leave the Etihad, with Napoli as the likely destination for the winger who was signed for £100 million in 2021.
Kalvin Phillips, James McAtee, and Maximo Perrone are also anticipated to depart.
MAYBES
The futures of goalkeeper Ederson, John Stones, Rico Lewis, Vitor Reis, Abdukodir Khusanov, Nico O’Reilly, Mateo Kovacic, Ilkay Gundogan, Nico Gonzalez, Matheus Nunes, Claudio Echeverri, and Oscar Bobb are still in question.
While most players will likely stay, some may leave—either permanently or on loan—to free up roster space.
Defender John Stones faced challenges last season, missing 34 matches due to injuries and is now approaching the final year of his contract.
He has been linked with a potential return to his former club Everton, and a substantial offer might persuade City to entertain a sale.
However, the 31-year-old is determined to remain at the Etihad for the next 12 months and complete his decade-long stay rather than seeking new challenges.
When asked about discussions regarding a new contract, Stones responded: “Nothing really, but I’m here and want to stay here.
“I love it. I’m here to support the team. I haven’t heard anything confirmed or speculated, but I hope this clarifies matters.”
Yenan Yildiz scored twice as City’s final Group G opponents Juventus triumphed over Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca with a scoreline of 4-1 at the Club World Cup.
Striker Yildiz assisted in the opener by forcing defender Abdelmounaim Boutouil to score an own goal, while Dusan Vlahovic’s penalty secured the victory for the Italian club.
