Manchester City are set to host Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday evening, aiming to climb back into the top five ahead of the season's final weekend.
Securing a spot in the top five would guarantee Champions League football next season, however, Pep Guardiola's team slipped to sixth place on Friday following victories by Chelsea and Aston Villa.
City must recover from the disappointment of their FA Cup final loss to Crystal Palace on Saturday. However, they are aware that either a draw or a win against the Cherries will elevate them to third place, ensuring their destiny is in their own control when they face Fulham in the season's final match on Sunday.
Bournemouth still have the opportunity to finish eighth, and there remains a slim possibility that this could secure UEFA Conference League football for the next season. However, this would require Chelsea to finish seventh and then triumph in the Conference League final against Real Betis next week, which would promote them to the Europa League.
Their motivation is evident, but after an impressive season under Andoni Iraola, the threat of their squad being dismantled in the summer as Europe's biggest clubs show interest in their players has been a constant concern, reports [the Manchester Evening News](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/bournemouth-set-95m-double-blow-31672490).
This is already causing disruption to the Cherries' plans, with two of their star defenders on the brink of securing transfers away from the Vitality Stadium. Over the weekend, Real Madrid announced the signing of Dean Huijsen for £50million, with the Spanish international set to join his new club next month in preparation for the Club World Cup.
Reports are now indicating that Liverpool are nearing a deal for Milos Kerkez, with Bournemouth reportedly slapping a £45million valuation on the Hungarian international. This comes ahead of a significant match, and it's far from ideal preparation for Bournemouth, a fact that will undoubtedly worry City's competitors in the quest for Champions League qualification.
[Newcastle,](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/all-about/newcastle-united-fc) Chelsea, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest will be anxiously observing Tuesday evening's proceedings to gauge the impact this has had on Bournemouth's readiness.