Manchester City: 10 heads may fall!

An injured beast. Accustomed to dominating his subject in the country as on the European scene, Manchester City is no longer this team that scares almost everyone. The machine has been broken for several months. This also coincided with Rodri's injury, whose absence has completely turned the residents of Etihad Stadium. Without him, it's another team. More predictable and temptable. On Wednesday evening, the Mancunians, who could still qualify for the 1/8th finals of the Champions League despite their defeat 3 to 2 last week, missed it. They were beaten 3 to 1 by Real Madrid, which could have scored more goals. After the meeting, Pep Guardiola was beautiful player, believing that the Merengues were simply better than his troops.

The end of an era

He also took the opportunity to point the ills from which his club has been suffering for a few months. “It is not a question of helplessness. We are a big team, but we have lost consistency. When a team is better, you can only congratulate it. We did something historic in our country for many years by winning so many competitions that we had never successfully succeeded before. Now we have to focus on qualification among the first four in the Premier League. ” But the former coach of FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich also mentioned the end of a cycle for his team.

“A little yes. Things do not last forever, everything does not last forever. There are players who are a certain age. We have won six Premier League in seven years and, in Europe, we have reached the quarter-finals, the semi-finals and the final each year. ” The Champions of England will therefore enter a new era in the coming months, with degreasing and lifting on the menu. Guardiola, who extended his contract until 2027 last November, should be on the wand. He confirmed it Wednesday evening: “Yes, I want to continue.” However, El Chiringuito Assures this Friday that he has been going away for a while. In stride, the Telegraph said Manchester City will not remember him if he ever wants to go away. But for the moment, it is he who will be on the English bench next year.

KDB and Gündogan on departure

He will notably be accompanied by Erling Haaland, who was armored until June 2034 last month. The Norwegian still has a pact to leave when he will feel the need and the desire. But Guardiola should advance hand in hand with him for a few more seasons. The Spanish technician will also be able to count on his winter recruits, namely Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, Nico Gonzalez or Vitor Reis. Other reinforcements are expected next summer. The priority will be to recruit a right side in order to compensate for the unforeseen loss of Kyle Walker, who wanted to slam the door and join AC Milan this winter. To replace it, it is Andrea Cambiasso (Juventus), who is in the small papers of the English management. We are talking about a price ranging from 60 to 70 M € for the 25 -year -old player. Another priority of Cityzens: prepare the succession of Kevin de Bruyne.

The Belgian, who will be 34 years old this summer, is at the end of the contract. And for the moment, we are heading more towards a departure than an extension. THE Manchester Evening News Explains this Thursday that City will have to make a difficult decision for KDB, which arrives at the end of the cycle. Ditto for Ilkay Gündogan (34 years old), whose return after a one -year exile to FC Barcelona was not up to expectations and which is in the same contractual situation as his teammate. The two elders are on the hot seat. Especially since the English leaders have already targeted the successor of De Bruyne, namely Florian Wirtz (21, Bayer Leverkusen). However, it will be necessary to double the competition and align the euros since his club awaits more than 100 M € for his midfielder.

A dozen cases to be settled

Among the elements potentially on departure, we also find Ederson (31 years old). Under contract until 2026, the Brazilian is no longer as imperial. As explained on our site last January, the Mancunians are looking for his replacement and established a short-list where Zion Suzuki (Parma), Vanja Milinković-Savić (Torino) and Michele Di Gregorio (Juventus, on loan in Monza) appear. Unless the English decide to promote Stefan Ortega, who eats away at his brake and wants a holder's place. The 32 -year -old German will go if it is not the case. Like Ederson, he only has a year of contract (the 3rd goalkeeper Scott Carson is at the end of the contract, editor's note). This is also the case of John Stones and Bernardo Silva, less in verve and disappointing, as well as James McATEE, who is flirted in Germany by Leverkusen.

It will be necessary to make a decision for them this summer, under penalty that they leave free in a few months in the event of non-prolongation. It will also be necessary to settle the cases of certain elements less successful, like Jack Grealish. Under contract until 2028, Jérémy Doku, he made desires, while competition is becoming stronger in his post. In January, Sport announced that his agents have tried the ground with FC Barcelona, ​​to which he was proposed. The Sun Add the name of Mateo Kovacic among the candidates at the start. Manchester City is therefore preparing for a great upheaval this summer with a dozen players who are potentially on the hot seat, and several recruits on approach, one of which is already known to all since Rodri should find the grounds, except relapse. City prays for her shadow star to be restored as quickly as possible.