Journalist claims seven Manchester City stars have been asked to find an exit this summer | OneFootball

As many as seven members of Manchester City’s first-team squad have been asked to find an exit this summer, according to new reports.

The latest information comes as the Premier League champions are widely expected to undergo further changes to their first-team squad during the summer months despite five new arrivals into the team following the turn of the year.

Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis were brought in by Hugo Viana and Txiki Begiristain during the January transfer window to bolster the defensive positions, while Nico Gonzalez would arrive on deadline day to come into the midfield.

Omar Marmoush would also arrive in a big-money deal from the Bundesliga to add further firepower to attack, while Claudio Echeverri has finally completed his switch from River Plate having agreed on a move in January 2024.

But with the ageing nature of Pep Guardiola’s squad still apparent and various contractual situations to weigh up within the club in the coming weeks and months, plenty more changes are expected from those responsible.

And the latest report centres around the possibility of big-name exits from the Etihad Stadium, with which it is suggested that a long list of names have already been made aware of their fate.

That is according to the information of Sky Sports Switzerland’s Sacha Tavolieri, who reports that the entourage of as many as seven Manchester City first-team players have already been informed of the club’s desire to move them on at the end of the ongoing campaign.

That list consists of Jack Grealish, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, John Stones, Mateo Kovačić, İlkay Gündoğan and Ederson, all of whom have reportedly been asked to find an exit from the Etihad Stadium in the ‘first days’ of the summer transfer market.

Kevin De Bruyne is arguably the most likely to leave the club in the coming months purely as a result of his ongoing contractual situation, with the Belgian’s current deal expiring at the end of the ongoing season.

The age profile of Mateo Kovacic and Ilkay Gundogan would also make them likely departures, while the increasingly concerning injury record showcased by John Stones raises natural question marks over his future.

Bernardo Silva has long been touted with an exit as he favours more tropical shores for the final years of his career, while Ederson was at the centre of big-money transfer interest from Saudi Arabia last summer – an interest that he reportedly responded to with warmth.

Jack Grealish however, is likely to be the most difficult of the potential exits given the level of investment placed in him by Manchester City back in 2021, and the salary package that any potential suitor would have to stump up in order to bring him back to the club.