Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is ‘gently nudging’ both Manuel Akanji and Ilkay Gundogan out of the Etihad Stadium before the summer transfer window closes, Citizens expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany has told Sports Mole.
Akanji and Gundogan were left out of Man City’s matchday squad for the 2-0 defeat at home to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League last weekend amidst uncertainty over their futures at the club.
Galatasaray have been credited with an interest in both players, although Akanji recently denied suggestions that a deal was close following reports of Man City accepting a £15m offer from the Turkish giants.
**Akanji has since been linked**with a move to FA Cup winners Crystal Palace, who beat Man City in last season's final, but it is thought that the defender would prefer to remain at the Etihad where he has two years left on his contract, while Gundogan expressed his desire to stay not long after the Citizens triggered a one-year extension to his contract.
This is despite reports claiming that Gundogan’s future is ‘one to watch’ in the remaining days of the window, as the 34-year-old has received ‘numerous top-level enquiries’ from clubs across the world.
Guardiola, who is keen to see his squad trimmed before the September 1 transfer deadline, affirmed after City’s defeat to Spurs that his decision to omit both Akanji and Gundogan was purely rotation-based, but McInerney does not believe that in the slightest.
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Akanji and Gundogan are “100%” heading for Man City exit door
Asked if there could well be more behind Guardiola’s decision to leave out both players, McInerney told reporters: “100%. One billion, trillion percent. There's no way that Guardiola doesn't know what he's doing there.
“They are his soldiers. He loves Akanji. He loves Ilkay Gundogan, truly adores them... treble winners, [Gundogan was] captain and a guy who lived in the same building block as Guardiola. Gundogan went round regularly for dinner and so on.
“No way a year ago would Nico O'Reilly, a 20-year-old lad, and Abdukodir Khusanov, another young player, be on that bench ahead of Akanji and Gundogan. I just refused to believe it. Absolutely not.
“So this is Guardiola very much making an obvious statement saying ‘We have issues with the squad and we are moving forward with these young players. You guys can hang around, but you're going to be sat in the stands potentially, or maybe not even registered’. There is no way to read it any other way than that.”
McInerney added. “Gundogan and Akanji are so versatile, so useful for Guardiola and some of his favourite ever footballers probably for City. Akanji's been incredibly lent on by Guardiola and has played at right-back, centre-back, left-back, defensive midfield.
“Gundogan, what more can you say about Gundogan? Guardiola couldn't wait to bring him back when he got a chance last year, and Nico O'Reilly and Abdukodir Khusanov are now on the bench ahead of them.
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Guardiola makes “very obvious statement of intent” to let Akanji, Gundogan leave
“This is a very obvious statement of intent for Guardiola to gently nudge these players towards the door. They are experienced players with so much ability still, but they are players that clearly have links to Turkey in particular, Akanji to Galatasaray.
“Gundogan was tentatively linked there as well. It's gone a bit quiet on that front, but there are rumours that lots of clubs would be interested in taking him. But the rumours are Gundogan maybe wants to stay.”
McInerney has suggested that there is still a strong possibility that one of Akanji or Gundogan could remain at Man City beyond the transfer deadline.
“I think there's a good chance one does stay and I think there is space for one of them to stay, but it's going to be a who-blinks-first situation really,” he said. “I think it'll probably be Akanji (to leave) and Gundogan might hang around.”
“I think Gundogan wants to stay in Manchester still. I think he's committed to a couple of years here. He's got a young family and friends here and so on. I don't think he's ready to move yet.
“I don't know Akanji's personal situation. I don't think either of them want to go, so it's going to be very interesting in how they handle this. Maybe Gundogan will leave on a free transfer in a few days from now something like that.”
Manchester City's Pep Guardiola on August 16, 2025
Guardiola is ‘rightfully pushing forward’ with younger Man City players
McInerney has highlighted how difficult it would be for either Akanji or Gundogan to leave a club where they feel settled and have been established senior stars for a number of years, but he now thinks that the time is right for the duo to depart and for younger players such as O’Reilly and Khusanov to be given more regular first-team opportunities.
He said: “Knowing how difficult this will be for those players to [be asked to leave] and how much Guardiola has given them - Gundogan in particular, his first ever signing at City a decade ago - he's made a very obvious statement there, to them directly for the world to see, that they are being left behind for O'Reilly, for Khusanov for people like that.
“I think that's a really big shout from Guardiola. That is a massive shout because it would have been very easy to leave the young lads on the bench, in the stands, but he is doing the right thing for Manchester City. It's tough on those guys and emotionally it'll probably hit them a little bit.
“It's their time, unfortunately, and football is a very ruthless game. Guardiola has shown, despite what everyone felt, he has got that ruthless streak still in him.
“There were worries last season that maybe Guardiola wasn't ruthless enough, but he clearly is not messing around this summer. He's pushing forward with the younger players, rightfully so. O'Reilly and Khusanov are the future of Manchester City. Gundogan and Akanji aren't anymore.”
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