Six Manchester City players that could leave this summer
By Ivan Buss
Reports are split with club captain Ilkay Gundogan. At first, he looked incredibly likely to depart Manchester City with Barcelona eyeing up the 32-year-old. However, even having been named on City’s released list, there are still ongoing talks (and hope) that Pep’s first signing will remain at the Etihad and extend his contract. Given his performances, there will be no shortage of clubs looking to snatch him up on a free. His innate ability to drift into dangerous areas undetected and finish around the goal are quite impressive for a midfielder. Let’s not forget the 2020/21 season where he finished with 13 goals in the Premier League and went on that incredible run in the winter months.
It’s no secret how much Gundogan has contributed at City over the years, and that he turns into prime Zinedine Zidane at the business end of the season. He will be sorely missed and incredibly difficult to replace should he part ways with City and seek a new adventure.
Aymeric Laporte
Laporte was brought in during the winter window in January of 2018 and quickly established himself in that City defense. His ability to distribute, maintain a cool head under pressure and his overall presence were a welcome sight at the time for Manchester City. He went on to play 34 matches in the following 2018/19 season, only to complete 28 games between the following two seasons after that (2019/20,20/21).
His time at City has certainly seen its fair share of ups and downs, but the ability to have him as a backup or slot him into defense when Dias, Stones or Kompany was injured was a serious luxury. Only playing 11 games this season, a player of this caliber deserves to be starting on another side. Barcelona has shown interest previously in Laporte, and Tottenham has been one of the clubs more recently to put him onto a list of possible summer targets. If the fee is right, City will surely allow him to leave this summer.