Guardiola says departures are likely at Man City this summer

Updated: 23 May 2021 00:17 BST
2 min read

Guardiola says departures are likely at Man City this summer — © ProShots

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has admitted that there could be a summer clear out at the Etihad Stadium.

Guardiola has just led City to a third Premier League title in four years, and having already defended the League Cup, is hoping to make history by adding a first Champions League title to the trophy cabinet at the end of the month.

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But having evolved his squad over recent seasons, the City coach admits there could be more wholesale changes in the coming weeks, with certain players not accepting their roles this season within a squad rotation system.

“There are players that accept one typical situation in the team and there are other ones that don’t accept it,” Guardiola is quoted as saying in the Daily Mail.

“When they don’t accept sometimes not playing, you can sustain that for one season – a short period – but not for a long period. It’s impossible.

“In that position, we have to change. We’ll see at the end of the season. We’ll talk with them and we’ll be clear, they’ll be clear, and we’ll decide the best for the players.”

Who could be set to depart?

The two most high profile players whose futures could be in doubt are Aymeric Laporte and Raheem Sterling.

Laporte, who has just switched his international allegiance from France to Spain, was expected to partner Ruben Dias in defence this season, but he has often been left out for John Stones. The England defender has fought his way back into Guardiola’s thoughts with impressive form and is now first choice next to his Portuguese colleague.

Sterling, meanwhile, has struggled in front of goal this season. His consistency was seen as one of Guardiola’s greatest triumphs at City, but his league goal tally has dropped by half over the course of 2020/21.

The potential acquisition of Harry Kane could put players like Gabriel Jesus further down the pecking order, too.