Manchester City are in a strong position to finish inside the top four and thus ensure qualification in the UEFA Champions League next season.
The Cityzens might also be able to win some silverware by beating Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final next Saturday, May 17.
That might have made it a satisfactory season for any other club. However, Pep Guardiola’s men have such high standards set for themselves that they will be somewhat disappointed with that sort of return.
With a number of veterans likely to depart, the next Summer Transfer Window should be a big one for Manchester City.
A Few Top Players Will Leave Manchester City at the End of the Seasons
The biggest of them all is Kevin de Bruyne, the talismanic player who has been the Cityzens’ best one during the past decade.
Manchester City did not renew de Bruyne’s contract, which means that they will have to look for his replacement in the upcoming season.
The Cityzens are reportedly looking at Dani Olmo of Barcelona as an option in the midfield.
Florian Wirtz has already been identified as the next potential No. 10 for Manchester City. The Bayer Leverkusen midfielder might attract a huge transfer fee, but that is not going to stop the Manchester club from signing him.
Ilkay Gundogan is also going to leave the club at the end of the season, which means that City will have to seek his replacement as well.
Omar Marmoush, who has made his mark for the club since signing for them last January, will continue to be the player Guardiola will bank on as a creative midfielder along with Wirtz, given the latter signs for them.
It will be interesting to see the career path of both Nathan Ake and Mateo Kovacic as well. The contracts of both players with Manchester City expire in 2026 and it remains to be seen whether they manage to see through them.
Ake has turned 30 this year and has played in only 18 matches this season. He has had his fair share of injury problems, which might compel the club management to look for his replacement as well.
Kovacic has been decent this season and has scored seven goals in 41 matches. He is 31 already, but should be able to see through his contract, even considering the fact that Manchester City have Rodri and Nico Gonzalez in their squad as defensive midfielders.
Kovacic can still prove to be a good option as a central or holding midfielder, as he has shown this season.
However, Jack Grealish is another player who should be leaving the club at the end of the season. Grealish will turn 30 this year and might be making a move to Serie A on loan.
With Savinho, Marmoush and Jeremy Doku all capable of playing as wingers, Grealish is somewhat redundant in the Cityzens’ set-up at the moment.
Manchester City might want to sign another winger as Grealish’s replacement. Therefore, it should be a busy transfer window for Manchester City this summer.
Guardiola will set his eyes on wresting the Premier League title back from Liverpool next season and will need reinforcements for the same.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Action Plus
Recording Date: 03.05.2025