Transfer Talk AMP Header: Pep Guardiola – we need to sell eight players to be on the safe side
Manchester City have been no strangers to splashing to cash on several star signings since Sheikh Mansour’s takeover in 2008 and they have established themselves as one of the biggest spending clubs in Europe.
The reigning Premier League champions have also built a reputation for producing and developing a plethora of highly-rated youngsters who are either integrated into the first team, sent out on loan to gain valuable experience, or sold for significant profit.
Pep Guardiola’s side have already generated close to £50m purely from player sales so far this summer, with academy graduate Taylor Harwood-Bellis the most expensive departure to date having joined Southampton for £20m following a successful loan spell last season.
One name who will remain at the Etihad Stadium this summer is star playmaker Kevin De Bruyne, according to Guardiola, despite reported interest from Saudi Arabia, but there are other Citizens stars and youngsters – some of whom are pushing for a move or are deemed surplus to requirements – who may head for the exit door in the coming weeks.
Here, Sports Mole takes a look at eight players who could either be sold or loaned out by Man City in this summer’s transfer window.
Ederson
Big-money exits? Loan departures? Eight Man City players who may leave this summer
Ederson has been Guardiola’s undisputed first-choice shot-stopper ever since he joined the Citizens from Benfica in 2017 and is regarded by many as one of the best ball-playing goalkeepers in world football.
However, the six-time Premier League winner, who has kept 155 clean sheets in 332 appearances for the Citizens, has been continuously linked with a big-money move to Saudi Arabia since the 2023-24 season ended in May.
Al-Nassr allegedly failed with a €30m (£25.2m) bid for Ederson earlier this month and have since cooled their interest, providing a clear path for fellow Saudi Pro League outfit Al Ittihad to make their move for the Brazil international.
Ederson is believed to have given the green light to join Al Ittihad, but journalist Fabrizio Romano claims that there is big gap in valuation between the two clubs, with Man City valuing the goalkeeper between €50m (£42m) and €60m (£50.5m).
Kalvin Phillips
Big-money exits? Loan departures? Eight Man City players who may leave this summer
One players who is seemingly destined to depart Man City this summer is out-of-favour midfielder Kalvin Phillips, who has failed to establish himself as a first-team regular since joining the club for around £42m in 2022.
After an unsuccessful loan spell at West Ham United during the second half of last season, Phillips has returned to Man City and has linked up with Guardiola’s pre-season squad in the Unites States.
However, it is understood that the Citizens are looking to move the 28-year-old on this summer, with Football Insider reporting that they are willing to sell the midfielder for as little as £20m – another possible loan exit has also not been ruled out.
Everton are one club who have been credited with an interest in Phillips following the departure of Amadou Onana to Aston Villa, while team abroad including Roma, RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg have previously been linked with the Yorkshireman.
Joao Cancelo
Big-money exits? Loan departures? Eight Man City players who may leave this summer
Another senior player who is believed to be surplus to requirements at Man City is full-back Joao Cancelo, who has spent the last 18 months out on loan at either Bayern Munich and Barcelona following an alleged fallout with Guardiola.
The 30-year-old enjoyed a successful 2023-24 campaign on loan at Barcelona, making 42 appearances in all competitions, and it is understood that both the player and the Catalan giants are keen to reunite ahead of the new season.
As things stand, Cancelo is yet to return to Man City for pre-season training due to his involvement at Euro 2024, and while he may eventually link up with Guardiola’s squad in the States, the Citizens are thought to be looking to offload the Portugal international in the coming weeks.
Man City would prefer to cash in on Cancelo, who is valued at around €25m (£21m), but that could prove problematic for cash-strapped Barcelona who would prefer to negotiate another loan move. Saudi pair Al-Ahli and Al Ettifaq have also been linked with Cancelo as have two of the full-back’s former clubs Juventus and Inter Milan.
Julian Alvarez
Big-money exits? Loan departures? Eight Man City players who may leave this summer
Speculation over the future of Julian Alvarez at Man City has been rife in recent weeks, with one report claiming that the forward has requested to leave the club this summer after rejecting a contract extension.
The 24-year-old has proved to be an invaluable first-team asset under Guardiola since joining from River Plate in 2022, contributed with 36 goals and 18 assists in 103 appearances, but the Argentina international has predominantly had to play second fiddle to leading marksman Erling Haaland.
Man City are allegedly determined to keep hold of Alvarez, who still has four years remaining on his contract at the Etihad and is valued by the Citizens at around €80m (£67.2m).
However, Alvarez is believed to be keen to move in search of regular first-team football, with Atletico Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea among the top European clubs who hold an interest in the versatile attacker.
Yan Couto
Big-money exits? Loan departures? Eight Man City players who may leave this summer
Man City could recoup a substantial fee from the sale of highly-rated right-back Yan Couto, who is yet to make a single senior appearance for the Citizens since joining the club from Coritiba in 2020.
The 22-year-old is not thought to be in Guardiola’s plans going forward, even though he starred on loan at Girona last season, providing eight assists in 34 La Liga games as the Spanish side surprisingly finished third to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Couto was signed by Man City for just £5m, but his value has increased as a result of his impressive performances out on loan, and a recent report claims that the Citizens are expecting to receive a £25m offer for the right-back from Borussia Dortmund.
A number of European clubs including Juventus and Bayer Leverkusen have also been credited with an interest in Couto, but Dortmund is believed to be the most likely destination for the Brazil international, with BVB and Man City said to be in discussions over a permanent transfer.
Issa Kabore
Big-money exits? Loan departures? Eight Man City players who may leave this summer
Like Couto, fellow right-back Issa Kabore has been on the books at Man City since 2020, but he is yet to make a first-team appearance for the club and has instead spent time on loan at Mechelen, Troyes, Marseille and Luton Town.
The Burkina Faso international made 24 appearances for Luton last season, but he has since returned to Man City and is expected to be offloaded this summer, preferably on a permanent basis with Serie A outfit Roma believed to be monitoring his situation.
A possible return to Luton, who are now competing in the Championship, has also been mooted for 23-year-old Kabore, who has entered the final year of his contract at Man City.
Kayky
Big-money exits? Loan departures? Eight Man City players who may leave this summer
Understandably a forgotten man in some quarters of the Man City fanbase, Brazilian attacker Kayky is still waiting to make his mark at the Etihad following his arrival from Fluminense three years ago.
The 21-year-old made just two senior appearances in 2022 before being loaned out to Pacos de Ferreira and Bahia, recording three goals and four assists in 28 games for the latter last season.
According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Kayky is set to join either Dutch club Sparta Rotterdam or Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk on loan this summer, as these are the two European clubs who have expressed the most interest.
Callum Doyle
Big-money exits? Loan departures? Eight Man City players who may leave this summer
Callum Doyle has been on the books at Man City since the age of 11, but he is yet to make a single senior appearance for his boyhood club and has instead gained experience on loan at three different EFL teams.
Temporary spells at Sunderland and Coventry City were followed by a season-long loan stint at Championship winners Leicester City, where he made 23 appearances during an injury-hit 2023-24 campaign.
Doyle is currently with Guardiola’s pre-season squad in the USA, but Man City are expected to send the 20-year-old defender on loan once again, with Norwich City believed to be a possible destination.
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