Man City will open talks over a surprise new contract for a recent signing, though big decisions are looming over six senior stars and a report has suggested three could be axed.
Pep Guardiola’s side hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons a fortnight ago. Man City were charged over 100 times by the Premier League for allegedly breaking Financial Fair Play rules between 2009-18.
In the event any punishments are handed down – which can range from a simple fine to expulsion from the Premier League – City fully intend to appeal the decision.
However, the uncertainty surrounding the club off the field is now being mirrored on it.
That’s according to the Mirror who state no fewer than six senior first-team stars are reaching a crossroads in their City careers.
The players cited are all towards the back end of their careers and for one reason or another, are providing City with an issue.
The six players in question are Kyle Walker, Aymeric Laporte, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Kevin de Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez. All apart from Laporte and Silva are already aged over 30.
Of the six, the Mirror state tough calls are looming on the futures of three in particular – Laporte, Gundogan and Silva.
Triple Man City exit to spark major rebuild?
Laporte, 28, has fallen behind Nathan Ake in the pecking order for much of the campaign. Guardiola’s shift to a 3-2-4-1 formation also doesn’t favour the Spain international.
His drop down the pecking order will ‘have consequences’, per the report, with the inference being he could be a high profile casualty in the summer.
Elsewhere, Gundogan, 32, reportedly wants a two-year contract if he’s to pen fresh terms at the Etihad. His current deal expires at season’s end.
The German veteran was made club captain at the beginning of the season following Fernandinho’s exit. However, there’s understood to be a ‘reluctance’ on City’s behalf to dish out a two-year deal given his advancing age.
Gundogan won’t lack for suitors if he does become a free agent. He reportedly holds interest from clubs in Spain and Germany.
Silva, meanwhile, has pushed to leave Man City in each of the previous two summers. The Portuguese is known to be receptive to joining Barcelona, though Xavi’s side have thus far been incapable of matching City’s £70m valuation.
A renewed push by Barca over the summer could result in it being third time lucky for Silva.
The Mirror add there are concerns over the futures of Walker, De Bruyne and Mahrez too, though they’re not anywhere near the concerns the other three are.
Their advancing ages is the biggest concern City have. Indeed, they wish to avoid having too many of their regular starters begin to decline at the same time – something that’s had dire consequences over at Anfield.
As such, the report predicts ‘there is likely to be a rebuild of Guardiola’s ageing squad’.
New signing to earn improved contract
However, one player whose future is not uncertain is World Cup winner Julian Alvarez.
The 23-year-old Argentine signed for Man City in the winter window of 2022. He remained with River Plate until the summer, though in limited appearances this season, has already shown he is primed to become a top class operator.
In lieu of his stellar early performances, the Mirror adds City are planning to open talks over a new contract for Alvarez. That’s despite his current deal only being a year old.
Guardiola and the club’s decision-makers are poised to sit down with Alvarez and his camp in the summer and thrashing out a new and improved deal will be top of the agenda.
Source: teamtalk
