Seven Man City Treble heroes could face the chop this summer with Pep Guardiola ready to replace senior stars
MANCHESTER CITY’S Treble winners wrote their name into the history books on Saturday night.
But lifting the Champions League trophy in the Ataturk Stadium in Turkey could be the last time a few of Pep Guardiola’s squad are seen in sky blue.
There are question marks over several of the relatively small group of senior players assembled at the Etihad.
And it is possible that a bunch of the stars who have helped them win three trophies will not be sticking around to defend them in August.
City are aware you can never stand still and despite their impressive achievements Guardiola expects to see some new faces arriving.
But hearing 32-year-old skipper Ilkay Gundogan has agreed to stay on after a truly memorable end to the campaign would be as big as any new signing for the club’s fans.
He played a key role in several games — scoring twice against Everton and Leeds in the Prem run-in and also in the FA Cup final win over Manchester United.
The club have been reluctant to offer more than 12 months to Guardiola’s first signing of his City era.
Gundogan cost £20.4million back in 2016 and knows he can get a longer deal elsewhere.
Talks will resume in the coming days with the possibility of a one-year contract and the option of a further season likely to be offered.
BETTING SPECIAL – BEST SPORTS BETTING APPS IN THE UK
Barcelona, Arsenal, his former side Borussia Dortmund and clubs in Saudi Arabia are watching with interest.
Fellow midfield stalwart Bernardo Silva has two years on his deal.
The Portugal international has asked City to consider offers for him for the past two summers due to his wish to be nearer to his homeland.
From a footballing point of view, Silva, 28, is happy — it is more about lifestyle with the former Monaco man.
The manager is desperate for him to stay as he knows his versatility makes him so difficult to replace.
They may face a fight to keep hold of 32-year-old Riyad Mahrez too with a lucrative offer from Saudi appearing in the last few days.
The Algerian is never happy when he does not play and he has been on the bench for the big games recently.
If both Gundogan and Silva stay then there will be a decision to make over England midfielder Kalvin Phillips, 27, who has struggled for game time in his first season with the champions.
The £42m signing wants to stay but must also worry about how much he will play — particularly if 29-year-old Mateo Kovacic arrives from Chelsea as expected.
City had earmarked a large chunk of money to spend on reshaping their midfield this summer. But having missed out on Real Madrid-bound Jude Bellingham, they may now work on keeping what they have got rather than spending big.
Although Celta Vigo’s Gabri Veiga, 21, is one they are looking closely at.
Guardiola may need to spend on the bolstering the defence too.
One player who will be on his way out is defender Joao Cancelo, who was sent out on loan to Bayern Munich in January.
The Germans will not take up their £60m option to buy him although they may be interested if the figure is dropped. Guardiola will not want him back at the Etihad after their relationship broke down and Barcelona is one option.
French-born Spanish international centre-back Aymeric Laporte could also be going after appearing to say farewell to the Etihad last month.
The 29-year-old, who joined in 2018 for £57m, had been an automatic starter but has lost his place in the side since Manuel Akanji’s arrival last summer and wants to play more regular football.
Tottenham are interested, as are a few clubs in Spain, and it would be no surprise if he moves on over the summer.
That could open the door for a big money move for RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol, 21, who is rated at more than £80m by his club.
Meanwhile, the future of Kyle Walker is also up in the air as he goes into the final year of his contract. The Three Lions ace finished the season impressively but was surprisingly left out for the final this weekend against Inter Milan.
Guardiola said at Easter he is not equipped to play the inverted full-back role perfected by John Stones, casting some doubt on his long-term prospects.
Given that he has just turned 33, it may be that City allow his deal to wind down before making a decision next summer.
Arsene Wenger agrees City need to inject young blood into their team for next term.
The Frenchman, who won three titles with Arsenal, said: “I must say, I was thinking: What do you now at City?
“Do you go for a new challenge? Motivate yourself for a new challenge?
“Or do you stay, take advantage of the credit and continue to develop this team?
“They will lose important players. This team is not an old team but there are few young players. Apart from Erling Haaland, who is 22 now, all the others are between 23 and 32.
“So two or three new players will need to change. They have to find same the quality again.”
Guardiola has shown in the past there is no room for sentiment by getting rid of some of City’s biggest legends.
Once the celebrations subside, there will be a few players wondering whether they could be next.