Pep Guardiola is ready to sanction the departures of as many as eight Manchester City stars as the club plots a summer transfer rebuild, according to reports.
A disappointing season for the defending Premier League champions went from bad to worse in midweek after they were knocked out of the Champions League play-offs by Real Madrid.
City had hoped to overturn a one-goal deficit at the Bernabeau but were handsomely beaten 3-0 in Spain by Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
17 points off league leaders Liverpool, City have also long-since waved goodbye to their hopes of mounting a defence of their league title.
And while Guardiola’s side are still in the FA Cup, their priority is likely to be holding onto a top-four spot to secure Champions League football for a 15th consecutive season.
After a bruising festive period, City spent lavishly in the January transfer window with five signings made for a combined £180million.
But, according to the Daily Star, the club are ready to splurge again in the summer and could let go of several senior first-team players to fund their transfer spending.
Club captain Kyle Walker has already left City to join AC Milan on a six-month loan and the veteran full-back is expected to complete his departure from the club in the summer.
Several other players aged over 30 are also likely to depart, including Bernardo Silva, Mateo Kovacic and Ederson who was linked with clubs in Saudi Arabia last summer.
John Stones’ injury record has worsened and he could also be moved on, while Ilkay Gundogan’s return to City from Barcelona has not proved an overwhelming success and the German could also be let go this summer.
Perhaps the most shocking exit would be Kevin De Bruyne who has been one of City’s best midfielders during Guardiola’s tenure but has just over four months left on his contract.
The Belgian has struggled to keep himself fit in recent years and his departure could free up funds to go after Florian Wirtz, the Bayer Leverkusen midfielder who is highly admired by Guardiola.
The last on the chopping block could be Jack Grealish who was signed for a whopping £100m back in 2021 but has largely failed to hit the heights expected of him in Manchester.
The England international, who will turn 30 in September, has no league goals this season and last started just two games in all competitions for City since the turn of the year.
As they target more arrivals in the summer, City are expected to reignite their pursuit of Andrea Cambiaso who they tried to sign from Juventus in January.
The club will also look to complete a deal for young centre-back Juma Bah from Valladolid.
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