SUMMARY
- Manchester City currently has one of the best teams in Europe and in the soccer world.
- City coach Pep Guardiola might be planning to sell some players before the start of the next season.
With the 2023-24 season entering its business end, Manchester City is once again looking formidable at this stage of the season. Despite initially struggling in the Premier League, Manchester City is currently placed third in the league and is just one point shy from the league leaders Arsenal. The defending Premier League champions have also reached the FA Cup semifinals, where they will face Chelsea next month.
In Europe, Manchester City has picked up right from where they left off last season. Pep Guardiola‘s side has looked comfortable in the Champions League and will now face Real Madrid in the quarterfinals. The defending Champions League winners would like to replicate their performance against Madrid from last season when they defeated the Spanish giants 5-1 on aggregate.
Champions League draw:
🏴 Arsenal vs. 🇩🇪 Bayern Munich
🇪🇸 Real Madrid vs. 🏴 Manchester City
🇫🇷 Paris Saint-Germain vs. 🇪🇸 FC Barcelona
🇪🇸 Atletico Madrid vs. 🇩🇪 Borussia DortmundWhat does everyone think of the draw? pic.twitter.com/k0B8pSL5Ka
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) March 15, 2024
Currently, Manchester City has a complete team, with Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez leading from the front. In the midfield, there are the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, and Rodri, with Ruben Dias, John Stones, Kyle Walker, and Manuel Akanji forming City’s defense. However, let’s take a look at four players Pep Guardiola should think of offloading ahead of the 2024-25 season.
4. Sergio Gomez
Sergio Gomez joined Manchester City in 2022 after spells at clubs like FC Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, and Anderlecht. The Spaniard, despite being a promising youngster, hasn’t been able to consistently feature in Pep Guardiola’s lineup. Moreover, Guardiola appears to prefer the 19-year-old English full-back Rico Lewis over Gomez.
Currently, Gomez has made just 35 appearances for Manchester City and has recorded two assists. With Gomez turning 21 in September this year, the former Borussia Dortmund star’s departure from City would probably be the best thing for his career. While City might not be willing to sell Gomez next season, the 20-year-old Spanish full-back could join another team on a loan deal.
3. Kalvin Phillips
It is safe to say that Kalvin Phillips’ highly anticipated move to Manchester City has been nothing but a disaster. Phillips left Leeds United and joined City in 2022 for a sum of $55 million. However, shortly after his arrival, Phillips suffered a shoulder injury that kept him on the sidelines for four months. After returning to the squad following the end of the 2022 World Cup, Guardiola even commented that Phillips was “overweight.”
🔵 Pep Guardiola on overweight comments about Kalvin Phillips: “I’m sorry…”.
“Once in eight years is not bad, but I’m so sorry. I apologised to him, I do apologise, I’m so sorry”. pic.twitter.com/pOGwHSjidy
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 19, 2024
Phillips later admitted that Guardiola’s comments had affected his confidence. Although the City head coach apologized to the 28-year-old midfielder, he hasn’t been able to get into Guardiola’s starting XI. Phillips, who’s currently on loan to West Ham, has scored one goal in 31 appearances for City. While a decision will be taken after the end of the season, it’s expected that Phillips will leave Manchester City at the end of the season.
2. Joao Cancelo
Despite being one of the top performers on Pep Guardiola’s team, Joao Cancelo had a falling out with his coach last year. According to reports, Cancelo wasn’t willing to fight for his place in the team, with Guardiola favoring Nathan Ake and Rico Lewis over the Portuguese. After a loan stint with Bayern Munich, Cancelo is currently on loan to FC Barcelona for the rest of the season.
🚨 Barcelona president Joan Laporta: “I think both João Cancelo and João Félix will continue at Barça next season.
I hope Atlético won’t create any issue. I don’t think Man City will put any limit to that.
For sure it will be an extension of loans with a fixed price.”
(Source:… pic.twitter.com/p6R5ZcbDME
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) March 23, 2024
Since he arrived at FC Barcelona, Cancelo has been one of the best performers in Xavi Hernandez’s side. FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco have expressed their desire to keep Cancelo in their team for the future. While it’s still not decided whether FC Barcelona will permanently sign Cancelo or opt for another loan deal, City is reportedly looking to sell Cancelo at the end of the season.
1. Jack Grealish
Probably the most shocking name on the list, but hear us out! Jack Grealish arrived at Manchester City in 2021 for a whopping sum of $126. However, since his arrival, Grealish has yet to justify the price tag City paid to Aston Villa to sign him. Since his arrival, Grealish has managed to score just 14 goals and provide 17 assists in 116 appearances for City (via Transfermarkt).
Moreover, the England star has struggled to find his place in the starting XI, especially after the arrival of Jeremy Doku last year. In addition to this, Guardiola has sent a warning to the ex-Aston Villa skipper that he isn’t willing to wait for Grealish to find back his form. While Grealish‘s deal with City expires in 2027, the Premier League giants might sell their big-money signing if they get a good offer in the summer transfer window.