Manchester City are facing a summer of change and incoming manager Enzo Maresca will have plenty of squad decisions to make.
Manchester City's midfielder Savinho (R) celebrates with teammate Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders (L) after scoring his team's fifth goal during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group D football match between Italy's Juventus and England's Manchester City at the Camping World stadium in Orlando
Tijjani Reijnders and Savinho are two players who could potentially depart Manchester City this summer
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Manchester City face a summer of unprecedented change. Not only are they losing the greatest manager the club and perhaps the game has ever seen, they’re also bidding farewell to club icons in Bernardo Silva and John Stones.
Incoming manager Enzo Maresca will hope to hit the ground running, but it felt telling that Pep Guardiola, in his final post-match press conference as Blues boss, told City fans to celebrate the good moments and the wins, not wait for trophies.
Guardiola believes the squad he’s leaving is capable of challenging on all fronts and their domestic cup double points to an existing winning mentality. But there remain squad questions to answer.
Replacing the experience of Stones and Silva will be nigh-on impossible and while the former has struggled over the past two seasons with injury and fitness issues, Silva has been an integral part of the rebuild.
Finding someone to fill his midfield jack-of-all-trades shoes will be difficult. And there are question marks around several City players as to whether their long-term future is at the Etihad after a campaign where those below the first XI have struggled to take opportunities and make an impact. Here are nine players who face uncertain futures under the new manager.
James Trafford
Let’s start with one who has done enough this season to show everyone how impressive he is. City would love to have him at the Etihad come September but Trafford will not want another season as number two. There’s a slim chance Maresca might bump him above Gianluigi Donnarumma but it seems a long shot and Trafford cannot afford to wait to find out. He won’t be short of suitors.
Rico Lewis
Handed a start on the final day of the season but Lewis has been the fall-guy this term under Guardiola, barely making match day squads, let alone appearances. His race at the Etihad may be run and the player himself will be desperate for regular football. Nottingham Forest have previously shown an interest and others will be keen on the youngster.
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Nathan Ake
The Dutchman is in the final year of his contract and while he’s proven a steady and calming influence when called upon, he’s unlikely to earn a new deal. Ake impressed in the Carabao Cup final win over Arsenal and can still cut it at the top level. City may view this summer as a chance to earn a fee for the 32-year-old.
Rayan Ait-Nouri
He’s only a year into his City career and was hailed as a long-awaited answer to the left-back vacancy when he signed. But Nico O’Reilly has nailed down that position and Ait-Nouri has work to do to prove himself at the Etihad. Injury issues and the Africa Cup of Nations prevented him from building momentum, and he faces a crucial summer.
Mateo Kovacic
Barely played this season because of injury but in the latter stages of the campaign was preferred by Guardiola to Gonzalez. The Croat is into the final 12 months of his deal and offers a wealth of experience, but is clearly not the long-term answer in midfield. This is the last summer to obtain a fee for the 32-year-old.
Nico Gonzalez
There was a point mid-season where you could argue Gonzalez was the most consistent and maybe even important City player. But then he disappeared not only from the XI but the squad and it remains to be seen whether he can force his way back into the picture. A new manager could bring new fortunes but the potential arrival of Elliot Anderson would only push the Spaniard further down the pecking order.
Tijjani Reijnders
The midfielder started the season with a bang at Wolves but has struggled for consistency which means a summer sale could be sanctioned. Reijnders has the flexibility to play in multiple midfield positions but hasn’t been able to nail down a spot in the XI. Another who will be hoping for a change of fortune with a new manager.
Savinho
Tottenham have rekindled their interest in the Brazilian who more than fluttered his eyelashes at Spurs last season. Has flattered to deceive since joining City and while it’s clear there is a talented player there, the Blues could potentially recoup the fee they paid for him and look to reinvest.
Omar Marmoush
The Egypt international hit the ground running when he arrived 18 months ago but has not made anywhere near that impact since. Filling the role of Erling Haaland’s understudy is an unenviable task and finding someone else of sufficient quality to play second fiddle if Marmoush departs is not straightforward.