Man City, Pep Guardiola
(Credit: Imago)
Mick Brown
Tue 15 July 2025 12:10, UK
Man City are set to accelerate first-team player sales in the coming weeks after Pep Guardiola threatened to walk away if his squad is not cut.
That is according to former Man United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the game, as he exclusively told Football Insider that the club are keen to do business before the start of the Premier League season.
Many players were left out of Guardiola’s Club World Cup squad, while he left with the statement: “I said to the club I don’t want that… I will quit. Make a shorter squad, I will stay.” [BBC]
This comes after Football Insider revealed Jack Grealish, Kalvin Phillips and James McAtee could lead the exodus from the Etihad in the coming weeks.
A number of first-team players on the fringes of the squad, who have been cast aside and are considered unlikely to make the starting XI, are now being pushed out of the door.
Meanwhile, Football Insider revealed that Guardiola is prepared to sell academy players including Issa Kabore, Callum Doyle and Luke Mbete.
Man City manager Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola is pushing for major changes to his squad. (Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media)
MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES
Man City prepare ‘major’ squad cuts after Guardiola demand
Brown told Football Insider in June that City are preparing for a seven-man exodus from Guardiola’s squad after a busy start to the transfer window.
The former scout, who has a wealth of experience in top-level player recruitment after over a decade at Man United during their most successful period, insisted that there are set to be “major” changes taking place over the coming weeks.
“As I understand it, Guardiola is desperate to cut the numbers from his squad,” he told Football Insider.
“He said before he went to the Club World Cup that he wanted his squad reduced by at least six players, and if it isn’t, he isn’t staying.
“I’ve never heard anything like that from a manager, to be honest.
“But it’s something City are now making progress towards, there are going to be major changes.
“From what I hear, they’re going to be pressing ahead with those sales, looking to drum up interest and speaking to clubs about potential deals.
“They want it to be done before the start of the Premier League season, so in the next few weeks.
“So in that department, I expect plenty of movement to start happening soon.”
McAtee
James McAtee is among those expected to leave Man City. (Credit: Imago)
James McAtee makes exit decision at the Etihad
One of the most talked-about expected departures from Man City this summer is that of McAtee, who is expected to leave after returning from the Under-21 Euros.
Football Insider revealed on 14 July that Man City will sell McAtee with one eye on generating “pure profit” to aid their Financial Fair Play and Profit and Sustainability situation.
A number of clubs both in the Premier League and Bundesliga are now considering moves for the 22-year-old as the race for his signature hots up.
This comes after Brown told Football Insider that McAtee could snub Premier League interest in favour of a move to Germany when he leaves the Etihad.
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