Pep Guardiola issues major transfer hint with two names excluded from Manchester City squad vs Tottenham | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has issued a major hint over which players could be subject to immediate exits from the Etihad Stadium this summer.

The Premier League giants remain at the centre of late transfer speculation, with several high-profile names facing uncertain futures heading into the final stretch of the ongoing summer transfer window.

Ederson, Jack Grealish, James McAtee, and Claudio Echeverri are among those to have featured in reports regarding departures throughout the summer, while Ilkay Gundogan and Manuel Akanji have been heavily linked with moves abroad more recently.

Gundogan’s situation has been one of the most closely monitored, with reports from Sky Germany and BILD indicating that the 34-year-old is giving serious thought to a move away, with interest in the Bundesliga, Serie A, and beyond.

Fabrizio Romano has also confirmed that teams in Saudi Arabia, the MLS, and Turkey are watching developments, though Galatasaray’s pursuit appears to have cooled for the time being.

Meanwhile, Akanji has also been at the centre of exit talk after Manchester City’s transfer valuation for him was met by Galatasaray, with the player now considering whether to continue at the Etihad Stadium or accept a fresh challenge elsewhere.

Now, as confirmed upon the release of official starting line-ups for Manchester City against Tottenham, manager Pep Guardiola has left out both Manuel Akanji and Ilkay Gundogan from his matchday squad at the Etihad Stadium.

Also absent owing to fitness and injury updates are Marcus Bettinelli, Josko Gvardiol, Mateo Kovacic, and Savinho, with the latter heavily linked with transfer interest from Tottenham, and a fresh assault via a new and improved bid from the North London club expected soon.

For Guardiola, the decision to exclude both Gundogan and Akanji will only intensify speculation that the pair are edging closer to potential exits.

With only a handful of days remaining in the summer window, their absence could be interpreted as preparation for imminent transfer developments rather than purely tactical decisions.

If Gundogan were to leave, Manchester City would bid farewell to a player who captained the club during their treble-winning campaign, while Akanji’s departure would further alter Guardiola’s defensive options at a time when John Stones is working back to consistent fitness.

The looming question is whether Manchester City feel sufficiently covered by recent midfield reinforcements and defensive depth to sanction both deals.

With Tottenham pursuing Savinho and Galatasaray refusing to give up on their City targets, the closing stages of the transfer market promise to deliver further drama at the Etihad, and Pep Guardiola’s squad against Spurs may well be the clearest sign yet of what is to come.

Manchester City Starting XI vs Tottenham: Trafford; Lewis, Stones, Dias (C), Ait-Nouri; Nico, Reijnders, Cherki; Bobb, Haaland, Marmoush.

Substitutes: Ederson, Nunes, Khusanov, Ake, O’Reilly, Rodri, Foden, Bernardo, Doku.