By their own lofty standards, Manchester City have had a poor season.
Third place and no trophies is hardly a disastrous season, but it’s a clear drop off from the last four campaigns.
City are expected to make a few signings this summer, and also trim the squad size and wage bill.
Pep Guardiola has always played down the scale of the rebuild but with numerous names strongly linked - namely Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tino Livramento, Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders, Morgan Gibbs-White, Rodrygo and Ardon Jashari.
So, I’ve decided to give my opinion on every City player and their future ahead of what’s expected to be a hectic summer.
Ederson
Fulham FC v Manchester City FC - Premier League Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images
Personally, I think he’s an excellent goalkeeper and I want him to stay. But if he wants to leave, now might be a good time to sell him as he has one year left on his contract and the goalkeeper market seems to be pretty good this summer.
Stefan Ortega
Crystal Palace v Manchester City - Emirates FA Cup Final Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images
We won’t get a better backup goalkeeper realistically. He signed a one year contract extension last year so I think we should give him another year and make a decision on him next summer.
Scott Carson
Manchester City FC v West Ham United FC - Premier League Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images
Fills a homegrown slot and is seemingly a popular and influential character in the dressing room. Perfect for a third choice goalkeeper.
Rico Lewis
Nottingham Forest v Manchester City - Emirates FA Cup Semi Final Photo by Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
He’s had a poor season but Guardiola adores him and he’ll definitely stay. Can fill in as a squad player in midfield and at full back. Proper footballer.
Kyle Walker
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His time has come. No chance that he’ll be at City next season, with plenty ahead of him in the pecking order.
Matheus Nunes
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Serviceable full back option, but he needs to leave if he wants to play in midfield. Versatile and a decent squad option, but if a good offer comes cash in.
Ruben Dias
Manchester City FC v Ipswich Town FC - Premier League Photo by Neal Simpson/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Hasn’t had his best season and struggles with injuries but this is the next club captain we’re talking about. Improves those around him and is here to stay.
John Stones
Manchester City FC v Newcastle United FC - Premier League Photo by Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images
Time to leave unfortunately. One of the highest earners in the squad and is starting quality but just can’t stay fit. Hopefully gets a good move to a midtable Premier League team or elsewhere in Europe.
Josko Gvardiol
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Fantastic player. The best young defender in the world who deserves the backline to be built around him next season. Signing Ait-Nouri could allow him to play centre back more often, where he’s been very impressive since March.
Nathan Ake
Manchester City v Real Madrid C.F. - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off First Leg Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
A very good squad option with the quality to start regularly. Has struggled with injuries this season but I wouldn’t at all mind him staying, though this might be the last chance to get a good fee for him.
Manuel Akanji
Fulham FC v Manchester City FC - Premier League Photo by Ben Roberts - Danehouse/Getty Images
Similar to Ake, but he’s less injury prone and more versatile. Perhaps not quite as good as the Dutch international. One of them should maybe leave to trim the squad but it’d be a huge blow if both of them left this summer.
Abdukodir Khusanov
Nottingham Forest FC v Manchester City FC - Premier League Photo by Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Should be one of four or five regular centre backs for next season. Brilliant player, who has only been overlooked due to the size of City’s squad and Guardiola’s preference for experience at the end of the season.
Vitor Reis
Manchester City v Plymouth Argyle - Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images
Can either be loaned out to gain match experience or kept at the club to learn in training and gain minutes for the EDS and in the cups for the first team. Whatever the club feels is best, really.
Nico O’Reilly
TOPSHOT-FBL-ENG-PR-EVERTON-MAN CITY
Quality young player who’s already good enough for the first team. Should stay to compete for places at left back and in central midfield.
Jahmai Simpson-Pusey
Brighton & Hove Albion FC v Manchester City FC - Premier League Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images
Probably time for a sale with a buy back clause for the EDS captain, with Reis and Khusanov the young players ahead of him in the pecking order.
Rodri
Manchester City FC v AFC Bournemouth - Premier League Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Will be like a new signing next season once he’s fully recovered from his ACL injury. The midfield should be built around him and he should be given a new contract and the role of vice captain.
Nico Gonzalez
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Slowly gaining Guardiola’s trust. Good player, tremendous attitude, and I think we’ll see him used more often next season when Rodri needs a break.
Kalvin Phillips
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Hardly even worth mentioning, unfortunately. Will definitely not be a first team player next season. My prediction is a loan back to Leeds United. Why on earth City gave him a six year contract I’ll never know.
Ilkay Gundogan
Manchester City FC v Wolverhampton Wanderers FC - Premier League Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images
Unc number one. Came into his own at the end of the season. Had his one year contract extension triggered and should stay on next season. Galatasaray are reportedly interested but his experience in the dressing room could be much more valuable than a small transfer fee.
Mateo Kovacic
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Unc number two. Probably the most sellable asset City have in midfield. He’s had a mostly good season and I’d advocate for him to stay, but if the likes of Reijnders and Gibbs-White are to come in he might need to move on.
Bernardo Silva
Manchester City FC v AFC Bournemouth - Premier League Photo by Neal Simpson/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Unc number three. Has been open to offers every year since 2020. This could be the year he gets his move, especially if boyhood club Benfica are interested, but he was good in the final few weeks of the season and I think he’ll stay another season to run down his contract.
Kevin de Bruyne
Fulham FC v Manchester City FC - Premier League Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images
And finally, unc number four. It’s the right time for De Bruyne to leave, as he looks to have physically deteriorated with age and after putting his body on the line to help City to the treble. His departure also paves way for the Reijnders, Gibbs-White and Cherki deals to be progressed.
James McAtee
Manchester City v Salford City - Emirates FA Cup Third Round Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images
Time for him to go. He’s been unable to even make the bench recently and the Blues are only set to strengthen in his position. He has no shortage of suitors, and could be sold to Forest as part of the Gibbs-White deal.
Phil Foden
Ipswich Town FC v Manchester City FC - Premier League Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
It’s been a difficult season for him but he’s our starboy. Will thrive after a rest this summer and in a functioning team next season. I expect him to get double figures in goals and assists in the league again next year.
Claudio Echeverri
Crystal Palace v Manchester City - Emirates FA Cup Final Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Might need to go on loan for minutes next season with the expected attacking midfield signings. Alternatively, like with Reis, he could be kept around the squad, gaining minutes from the bench and with the EDS whilst training with and learning from the first team.
Jack Grealish
Paris Saint-Germain v Manchester City - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD7 Photo by David Ramos - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
One year left on his contract, on mega high wages and far down in the pecking order for midfield and wide positions. His role in the treble means he hasn’t been a flop, but it’s Grealish’s time to go.
Savinho
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Underwhelming, with just two goals scored this year. Deserves a second season in the hope he improves but needs to get rid of some of his frustrating qualities before he can be regarded as good enough for City.
Jeremy Doku
Nottingham Forest v Manchester City - Emirates FA Cup Semi Final Photo by Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
The same as Savinho, but a year further down the line without any major improvement. Guardiola likes him so he’ll stay but I’d accept any offer over £45 million for him this summer.
Oscar Bobb
Manchester City FC v AFC Bournemouth - Premier League Photo by Ben Roberts - Danehouse/Getty Images
So, so disappointing that injury prevented him from his breakout season. Absolutely needs to stay and be trusted with regular minutes next season.
Omar Marmoush
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Good enough to play regularly on the left hand side next season. Started well and will probably only get better.
Erling Haaland
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It goes without saying that he deserves the team building around him for the foreseeable future. Tied down for the next nine years and he’ll leave the club as one of its greatest ever players.