Manchester City’s latest 1-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest was yet another reminder that it would be a cardinal sin for them not to overhaul their squad in the summer.
While Ederson Moraes made a glaring error for Callum Hudson-Odoi’s goal by letting the former Chelsea winger’s tame attempt bypass him, City’s performance did not merit a win either.
Manchester City conceded a cheap goal but they also struggled to create too many noteworthy performances against Nottingham Forest, the tempo at which they played was far too lackluster and they were typically vulnerable while defending counter-attacks.
Ageing players, a lack of a squad rebuild and underwhelming signings have been symptomatic of a Sky Blues side that have flattered to deceive this season.
But it seems like City have come to terms with the fact that Pep Guardiola is in need of a squad rebuild if he is to continue being successful. Manchester City could sell seven players — reportedly telling the likes of Jack Grealish, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, John Stones, Mateo Kovacic, Ilkay Gundogan and Ederson to all look for new clubs.
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But there are five players in particular who the Premier League champions should look to move on in the summer.
Kyle Walker
Photo by Fabrizio Carabelli/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Photo by Fabrizio Carabelli/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Kyle Walker is currently on loan at AC Milan and it seems highly unlikely that he will rekindle his love affair with City next season.
Tony Cascarino criticised Walker’s form at Manchester City and fairly so as he was arguably his side’s biggest underperformer before moving to Milan — making constant mistakes at the back throughout campaign.
The Englishman seems to have benefited from a change of scenery as he has fared rather well for the Italian giants.
But at 34, Walker is well past his best and perhaps it would be best for Manchester City to secure a fee for him before the veteran’s contract runs out next year.
Jack Grealish
Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images
Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images
Barring the six-month period where Jack Grealish played an instrumental role in helping Manchester City win the treble, he has failed to live up to the billing in the rest of his time at the Etihad Stadium since first joining the club in 2021.
The popular view seems to be that Grealish has declined at Manchester City and in fairness, the marriage was one that was always bound to ultimately fail.
The Englishman is not an out-and-out winger and especially one who scores goals or provides but Pep Guardiola views him as one who is best-suited playing out wide. Centrally, De Bruyne and Phil Foden have justifiably earned Guardiola’s trust which is why Grealish has rarely ever been played in midfield at Manchester City.
While Grealish vowed to up his game this season, that has not been the case and with the 29-year-old being one of the club’s highest earners anyway, it is best if both parties move their separate ways.
Ilkay Gundogan
Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Much like Walker, Ilkay Gundogan is a Manchester City legend.
But the German’s return to Manchester City has been a massive letdown as his athleticism has undergone a massive decline while even in possession, the 34-year-old struggles to control games like he used to before initially departing the Etihad Stadium in 2023.
Pep Guardiola would have been happy about Gundogan’s return due to how he could have filled in during Rodri’s absence but he no longer can operate as a defensive midfielder at the highest level — which was another one of his strengths even last season. While even further forward, the treble-winning skipper has looked out of ideas.
Gundogan is keen on joining Galatasaray and perhaps it would be best to let him leave on a free transfer at the end of the season.
Bernardo Silva
Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty Images
Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty Images
Bernardo Silva, much like Gundogan looks way off the pace physically.
But more concerningly, the Portuguese international looks ineffective wherever he plays.
On the right-wing, the 30-year-old can neither take on a man nor produce goals and assists while in a number eight role, Bernardo is too easy to run past and in possession, he struggles to break the lines and drive past opponents like he used to.
While as an advanced midfielder, the six-time Premier League winner offers little to no threat.
Manchester City approach Bernardo’s future season by season and after how disappointing he has been throughout the season, perhaps it is best to let go of such a declining asset come the summer.
Matheus Nunes
Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images
Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images
Matheus Nunes has done a job for Manchester City at right-back and out wide this season.
But Nunes is a midfielder by trade and it is a damning indictment of his signing that despite Manchester City struggling in the middle of the park as much as they have this campaign, Pep Guardiola barely ever played him to shore them up in arguably the weakest part of their side.
Manchester City paid £54.5 million to sign Nunes and it’s safe to say that he has not justified the fee.
The former Wolves dynamo is seemingly considered too erratic from technical and decision-making standpoints to earn Pep Guardiola’s trust in midfield — as summed up by his shambolic back pass to gift Amad Diallo a goal in City’s 2-1 defeat against Manchester United.
Nunes is unlikely to become a starter in any of the positions he has been trialled in at Manchester City in the long term and all in all, his signing sums up why the English giants’ recruitment has underwhelmed in recent years.