Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany would be "amazed" if at least four or five players do not leave the Etihad Stadium as part of a "brutal" squad rebuild this summer.
After winning an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title last season, Man City's struggles have been well-documented this term and they are now in danger of ending the campaign trophyless for the first time since Pep Guardiola's first year in charge in 2016-17.
A combination of injuries and a notable drop-off in form from several first-team players has contributed to Man City's decline this season, with Guardiola's ageing squad currently sitting a staggering 20 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool following a 2-0 home defeat to the Reds last weekend.
City, who have also been knocked out of both the EFL Cup and Champions League, are now prioritising a top-four finish in the Premier League as well as success in the FA Cup, a competition which represents their only remaining chance of lifting silverware.
Guardiola will be keen to return his Citizens side to the summit of English and European football next season, but a major squad rebuild is required, one that began in January with the arrival of four new players - Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez, Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis.
While a host of first-team stars are expected to stay at City for next season, including Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Savinho, Josko Gvardiol, Jeremy Doku and Rico Lewis to name a few, there are a number of senior players who are facing an uncertain future at the Etihad.
Which high-profile names could leave Man City this summer?
The most notable of those is Kevin De Bruyne, who is out of contract in June, while the likes of Ilkay Gundogan, Ederson, John Stones, Nathan Ake, Jack Grealish, James McAtee and Kyle Walker, who is currently on loan at AC Milan, have also been tipped to depart.
Guardiola has already hinted that a mass overhaul of his squad could be on the cards this summer, and McInerney has shared his thoughts on which players could now be fighting for the futures.
"The most telling thing for me was Guardiola in the press conference prior to the Liverpool game," McInerney told Sports Mole. "He's essentially said anyone who's old and can't run and can't play twice a week, with the way football's going right now, it's just not enough.
"[Change] is going to be very hard to take for some us as fans, some of these players, because ultimately there's some legends in the crosshairs.
"The centre-backs like John Stones and Ake. Are they vulnerable? They've barely been fit. John Stones in particular, he's played about a third or a quarter of the games he could have played in his time at Man City because of injuries.
"Kevin De Bruyne is just struggling right now, it's hard to watch. Gundogan does not have the legs anymore. Is there potential for Bernardo Silva to be at risk? I don't think so. I think he might just end up staying for one more year, but he's shown a drop-off in terms of keeping up with it the intensity of the game.
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'Man City are going to have to be a little bit brutal'
"By the words of Guardiola and the very public statements of intent to rebuild the squad, we're starting to see signs that we could lose some big legends.
"Kyle Walker is certain [to leave]. I think Ederson feels he still wants to go... I think there'll be one big centre-back that leaves, be it Stones or Ake. I think Guardiola would prefer it to be John Stones personally given the left foot of Nathan Ake.
"There's been some rumours that De Bruyne would like to stay, even as a bit-part player, which is interesting because I feel like time is telling us that his time is up unfortunately, so De Bruyne I think he might [leave] and Gundogan I'm almost certain (will leave too)."
McInerney added: "I think there might be a surprise or two where there's a side of the quality of a Fenerbahce or someone like that who puts in a £20m bid for [Mateo] Kovacic and he considers moving on. That's the kind of transfer I expect could happen [as well as] Matheus Nunes moving back to Sporting Lisbon or something like that.
"I think there's a few players definitely at risk and it's definitely the older ones. Jack Grealish is another (at risk) because he is apparently more in and out right now. I struggle to see who'd go for him (though). I don't know who'd pay the wages and so on.
"I think there might be a couple of things where players go out on loan... I think it's going to be tough, but I think City are going to have to be a little bit brutal."
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Could Man City sell up to eight or nine players this summer?
Asked if he could see a large number of Man City players leaving all in the same summer transfer window, McInerney said: "I think it could [happen]. I think there's a very strong chance Ederson goes. Kyle Walker's 100% going. I would guess one of the centre-backs goes (Stones or Ake) because they're constantly unfit.
"I would be amazed if City stood in the way of Matheus Nunes leaving if someone offered some money for him, so that's a maybe. One of the midfielders will leave. Gundogan is almost certain (to leave). De Bruyne I think there is a very strong chance.
"Would I be surprised if James McAtee went? Nope. You're at six players there all of a sudden and then we haven't even touched on people like Kovacic or Nico O'Reilly who had teams interested in him (in January).
"I don't think we'll see eight or nine players go, but I'd be amazed if there isn't five or six, or four or five at least at a minimum. It depends what the market's going to be like. We don't know how much money clubs are going to have or how hungry clubs are going to be for some of these players.
"I do think it's going to be a pretty aggressive shift towards the younger squad. City have already shown signs of that and I think it'll have to carry on."
Press play on the video at the top of this article to hear the full discussion.
Oliver Thomas
