It is time for Manchester City to make a decision on the future of their key players. Ederson, Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne are the pillars of The Citizens winning the treble in 2023 and reaching the milestone of 4 consecutive Premier League titles in 2024. But nothing lasts forever, and there are now serious questions about their future.
De Bruyne will expire in the summer, while Gundogan has a two-year option in his contract, which could be extended to 2026 if activated. There is interest in De Bruyne from teams in Saudi Arabia and the US. Meanwhile, Galatasaray believe they have a good chance to get Gundogan. Ederson was close to moving to the Saudi Pro League last summer, while Bernardo has long wanted to return to Spain, France or Portugal.
The problem Man City are facing is Ederson, De Bruyne and Bernardo will need to be replaced. And that won't be cheap. Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz is the target to replace De Bruyne, but there will be fierce competition from Bayern Munich and possibly Real Madrid.
If Ederson leaves, The Citizens could make Stefan Ortega their first choice and sign a reserve player or look for another No. 1 goalkeeper like Diogo Costa of Porto.
In addition to the players, Pep Guardiola also needs to consider the futures of some players who are no longer in the plan. Jack Grealish tops the list. At the age of 29 and with 4 years of association with the Etihad, Grealish must be an indispensable player. However, the English striker has not been a regular player in the squad since the treble season. That leaves Grealish's future uncertain.
For the remaining 2 years in the contract, Man City will demand a fee before letting Grealish go. There have been vague connections with Tottenham or a return to Aston Villa, but there is a possibility that a significant investment will be needed. This means salary plus transfer fee to get an agreement.
For John Stones, it is different because the problem is not the achievement, but the endurance of this central defender. In his 9th season at the Etihad and approaching the age of 31, Stones has only been able to play more than 25 times in a single campaign. The latest injury he suffered in the match against Real Madrid will see him out for 8 to 10 weeks.
Guardiola's biggest problem this season is injuries. And it is understandable that he will prioritize players who can maintain their fitness.
