The season has finished, so let the ‘rumour madness’ shift-up a gear or three! Huh...we've already signed one player!
Set to leave? Chances out of 10…
Name:
Claudio Bravo
Type
of movement: Sale or loan
Chance
(in my opinion): 5/10
Comment: Even ‘steadfast Pep’ might admit
that this fella just isn’t suited for the Premier League. The player himself
might just want to get the hell out of here! 50/50 on this one; just can’t tell…
Name:
Joe Hart
Type
of movement: Sale
Chance
(in my opinion): 9/10
Comment:
Big shame
in my opinion – our best player in the 2015/16 season and a rock for City for
years! Still young enough to learn Pep’s footwork demands but I suspect there’s
something of a ‘personality
clash’ thing going on here too. Hoping
for that 1/10 chance of a ‘change of mind’ but I very much doubt it…
Name: Willy Caballero
Type
of movement: Release
Chance
(in my opinion): 10/10
Comment: I had a feeling he might have done enough in his time
covering for Claudio Bravo to stay on our books as a covering keeper for one
more season. He’s done very well indeed ‘in my humble’. I then thought that, if
not, then he might stay on in a goalkeeper
coaching role. Neither is happening as he’s now been told he can leave…
Name:
Tosin Adarabioyo
Type
of movement: Release
Chance
(in my opinion): 10/10
Comment: From what I know, Tosin is upset at his lack of progress towards first team action and from
what I’ve been told by those who have seen him this season; it’s showing
‘big time’ in his game. A once-promising player who I was excited / hopeful
about every time I saw him; it now looks to be coming to a frustrating end at City for the young lad.
Name: Gael Clichy
Type
of movement: Release
Chance
(in my opinion): 10/10
Comment: Need much better & younger now. The French defender has often
spilt opinion; personally – and for most of the time – I felt much safer with
him in there rather than Aleksandar Kolarov. Has had some very poor games with
some ‘howlers’ at time but was, for the most part in my opinion, a ‘Steady
Eddie’. A professional player who I applaud as he heads out of the exit. He has now
been told he can go.
Name:
Aleksandar Kolarov
Type
of movement: Sale
Chance
(in my opinion): 3/10
Comment: As with most players - and as I suspected would happen - the
Serbian improved under Guardiola. Still not a very good defender but,
weirdly, seemed to better whenever he covered on the left-side of central defence.
His already decent long-distance passing got even better last season too and I suspect
our manager will keep him around for another season before being allowed to
leave on a free in July 2018, where he’ll then be 32-½ years of age.
Name:
Jason Denayer
Type
of movement: Sale or, possibly, another loan
Chance
(in my opinion): 10/10
Comment: Once tipped by both Marc Wilmots and
Ronny Deila as having a very bright future
indeed – even to the point of being Vincent Kompany’s natural replacement at
international level! So just what has happened to the soon-to-be 22-year old
(on 28th June)?
Name: Eliaquim Mangala
Type
of movement: Sale
Chance
(in my opinion): 10/10
Comment: I wonder if the scout who advised us on this Frenchman is still
employed ANYWHERE in the same role? Best debut I can recall from any City
player and then…oh
my God! He looked like a ‘Nervous Nelly’ who was FULL of
errors! What a very expensive failure Mr Mangala has been…and
to think he left us on tenterhooks for so long in a ‘will he or won’t he sign’
saga that seemed to drag on and on and on…
Name:
Pablo Mari
Type
of movement: Release
Chance
(in my opinion): 10/10
Name:
Bacary Sagna
Type
of movement: Release
Chance
(in my opinion): 10/10
Comment:
Best free transfer ever...or does that go to Ali Benarbia? Either way the ‘cost nothing’
right-back from Arsenal has done very well indeed since he joined us on 13th
June 2014. Has had some injuries but always seemed to bounce back well with 53
appearances in 3 seasons being testament to that; baring in mind the competition he had
for that position (coming up next). Age (turned 34 in February 2017) never seem
to diminish decent pace & power that he displayed when he first joined us. Solid defender
and a real professional. Has been told he can leave.
Name:
Pablo Zabaleta
Type
of movement: Release
Chance
(in my opinion): 10/10
Comment:
It’s all been said in recent weeks about what a
City hero & legend he is. As for the decision regarding his departure from City? Yep…he’s slowing
down now and as with the left-hand-side of our defence, we need ‘younger &
faster’ now. Said a “333 appearances goodbye” in our last home game and has
already signed for West Ham United on a
2-year deal. The Hammers’ fans should
love him!
Name:
Luke Brattan
Type
of movement: Sale or another loan
Chance
(in my opinion): 10/10
Comment:
A club partnership signing who has never pulled on a
City shirt so far (unless he's bought one from a shop).
Name:
Anthony Caceres
Type
of movement: Release
Chance
(in my opinion): 10/10
Comment:
For this one,
read the Luke Brattan one again...but this time I'm not sure Anthony has a contract with us beyond June...
Name:
Fabian Delph
Type
of movement: Sale
Chance
(in my opinion): 8/10
Comment: I’m sure Pep loves his energy, versatility, determination,
professionalism and the fact that he adds to his 'English quota' of players. What
he won’t like is what he sees on a regular basis on the training pitch
and behind the scenes otherwise, which is a player plagued by niggly injuries
that appear to hamper him every other month in a very ‘stop-start’ career and season just gone. Shame…
Name:
Fernando
Type
of movement: Sale
Chance
(in my opinion): 10/10
Comment: The Brazilian / Portuguese (take your pick) had a few wobbles and
errors in him when he first started but became increasingly solid with time.
With those seemingly telescopic legs of his, that’s exactly what ‘The Octopus’
was for us most of the time…"solid". Always good to chuck him on to 'see-out
games' whenever we needed to hold on to a scoreline; I often felt safer with the ex-Porto man ‘sweeping up’. But we need much, much
better now as we strive to progress as a team & football club and I think Pep will have already decided to advertise his
availability.
Name:
Samir Nasri
Type
of movement: Sale
Chance
(in my opinion): 10/10
Comment:
Exactly NOT the type of player Pep wants
anywhere NEAR his team! Having said that, at one stage, in August 2016, I thought
otherwise; as the French midfielder / winger turned out…and did really well
for us! BAGS of talent but also BAGS of bad attitude too, which often lead to very inconsistent periods
throughout most seasons with us. As I say, not
the type of player our manager wants hanging around the place…
Name:
Jesus Navas
Type
of movement: Release
Chance
(in my opinion): 10/10
Comment: Could never fault his pace, energy, desire and willingness to
‘track back’…but he frustrated the HELL out of most who watched him; with
his lack of ‘end product’ and finishing ability. Pep appeared to like him though and, in fairness to the Spaniard, he did
okay for the most part when asked to play in a wing-back role. I actually
thought he might…just MIGHT have earned himself a 1-year extension contract to
act as a covering-squad player next season but he has been told he’s free to look
for another club.
Name:
Nolito
Type
of movement: Sale
Chance
(in my opinion): 10/10
Comment:
Just hasn’t worked out, has it?
Name:
Yaya Toure
Type
of movement: Release
Chance
(in my opinion): 4/10
Comment: A club fall-out (or at least with his puddled agent), then trained hard, got lean, came back into the side and did
really quite well…even exceptionally well in certain games! Decent chance,
then, that we’ll be singing his same for another season? I think so...
Name:
Bruno Zuculini
Type
of movement: Sale
Chance
(in my opinion): 10/10
Comment:
Has been loaned out more times than a crazy golf club! I recall quite clearly the ‘buzz’ and general
excitement when we signed this Argentine from Racing Club de Avellaneda but, like many and as is often the case, it just fizzled.
Name:
Sergio Aguero
Type
of movement: Sale
Chance
(in my opinion): 2/10
Comment: Rumours of him leaving in the summer of 2017 never seem too far away and, for some reason, I’m often
asked by Manyoo fans why I think that is (I think they want him). My answer is always the same, which is
that under both Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini I had often heard that he wasn’t
the best on the training pitch in terms of effort. I get that – if you’ve
clearly got natural ability (and he has) why would you feel the need to put
extra effort in? But remember that period when he couldn't shake off thigh
injuries? Remember how he had to change both his eating and training habits to
get over them, which often included extra time on the training pitch and coming
back from close season earlier than other players? And wouldn’t it 'pee your teammates
off' seeing you waddling around while then ‘pound the turf’ on the training pitch? Well I think that’s
what appeared to be wrong when Guardiola first arrived; when rumours were abound that
the pair had fallen out. Where Roberto & Manuel gave him a little leeway, Pep said "No way". Since then, I think the Spaniard has got the Argentine
on board and we’ve seen a real consistent spell of late…along with a notable
increase in ‘ground covered’ on the pitch. Result? I think both are now ‘happy
chappies’. Can’t see him going in the summer but if he DOES, we’ll need to
bring in TWO quality strikers in July / August!
Name:
Wilfried Bony
Type
of movement: Sale
Chance
(in my opinion): 10/10
Comment:
What went wrong?! Sparta Prague – Played 59, Scored 22; Vitesse
– Played 65, Scored 46, Swansea City –
Played 54, scored 26 (some in the Premier League).
Manchester City – Played 36, Scored 6 and finally Stoke City – Played 10, Scored 2 (both in the same
game). I’ve
heard some City fans call him lazy but I disagree. Even for a fella with a
big, big frame I thought he put himself about a lot; dropped deep and 'put in a
shift' for the team. But, in-between both injury & illness, he just lost his
shooting radar somewhere; often ‘snatching’ at shots in desperation. Calls from
a lot of City fans, at the time, were for a ‘strong fella’ up front and we got
one who was banging 'em in for The Swans...but he just didn’t seem to fit in
with the style of football we were playing at the moment nor today.
Name:
David Faupala
Type
of movement: Sale or release.
Chance
(in my opinion): 10/10
Comment:
If you’ve only played 14 games for Chesterfield on
loan since the end of January, scored just once and are out of contract in
12-months’ time; then I don’t think Pep is going to linger too long in his
decision making. I hope he finds his feet elsewhere soon.
Name:
Kelechi Iheanacho
Type
of movement: Loan…possibly a sale.
Chance
(in my opinion): Loan: 5/10.
Sale: 8/10.
Comment:
I honestly didn’t think for once minute I’d be
including the Nigerian in this piece…and, equally, I honestly thought this
would be a key season for the striker under our new, Spanish boss. And without
knowing for sure, I’m confident his ‘goals to minutes’ ration has continued to
be good this season. However, the 20-year old just couldn’t find his feet most of the
time; with balls appearing to ‘ping’ off his shins or getting trapped under his
frantic feet. With another top striker sure to be coming in over the summer I,
personally, would like to see him go out on loan to another Premier League club
for a season (somewhere like AFC Bournemouth?
Everton? Swansea City? Newcastle United?) and, hopefully, then come back
a better player. But I’ve just got a nagging feeling that he’ll be used in some
kind of ‘makeweight’ in a deal to bring a wanted player in; possible a deal
involving an Arsenal or Tottenham Hotspur player. West Bromwich Albion are apparently interested too.
Other possibilities:
Cameron Humphries (loan or sale)
Like Tosin, I have liked the look of this
youngster...but he only has one year remaining on his contract and has seen very little action in the first team.
Jose Angel Tasende (loan or sale)
Possibly a little lightweight? Could be one
of those who just doesn’t make the grade at City.
Manu Garcia Alonso (loan or sale)
Not sure – not seen enough of him but
appears to have played plenty on loan at NAC Breda.
Aaron Mooy (another loan or possible sale - wanted man I'm sure)
Heard very good things about this
hard-working Australian on loan at Huddersfield Town. I wonder if Pep will get him back to have a look at him or perhaps
loan him to a Premier League side and monitor him that way for another season (that COULD be Huddersfield themselves)?
Patrick Roberts (another loan)
Similarly – and at a similar level as Aaron Mooy has been playing in the Championship –
I’ve heard excellent reports from the Scottish Premiership about this young, English right-winger / forward on loan at Celtic for 1-½ seasons. Before we confirmed the passed medical and agreed fee of £43M for Bernardo Silva , I WAS going to say that Patrick could save us a
packet if we’re considering bolstering our attacking midfield / wing department
in the summer. And at just-turned-20, he would have provided very good competition for
Sterling; possibly increasing Raheem’s consistency at the same time with the even-younger England man ready to step in should his form dip. Still...surely we can’t let this one get away from us - another loan but this time to the Prem perhaps? A Sterling replacement in 2018/19 if Raheem doesn't improve?
Even if
only half of that lot go, that’s some serious incoming revenue both in terms of
‘player sale fees’ and players coming off the wage bill!
Coming in?
Right…basically, I’ve listed players who
we’ve been linked with over the last 12 months who I personally DIDN’T
think was just wild, speculative ‘paper talk’ and, therefore, stood little
chance.
Regardless of contract lengths (listed for
your information), I’ve gone for players linked with us in positions we need or might need and that Pep might very
well be interested in-having in his squad.
Key:
Red contract dates indicate that the player’s contract is up within 2 years.
Grey, italic is a player who is ‘heavily contracted’ at his current club.
Black is somewhere ‘in between those’.
Red contract dates indicate that the player’s contract is up within 2 years.
Grey, italic is a player who is ‘heavily contracted’ at his current club.
Black is somewhere ‘in between those’.
Goalkeepers:
Ederson Moraes Contracted to June 2023
Gianluigi Donnarumma Contracted to June 2018
Jordan Pickford Contracted to June 2020
Jack Butland Contracted to June 2021
Left-sided
defenders:
Alex Sandro Contracted to June 2020
Danny Rose Contracted to June 2021
Theo Hernandez Contracted to June 2017
Juan Bernat Contracted to June 2019
Faouzi Ghoulam Contracted
to June 2018
Benjamin Mendy Contracted to June 2021
Marc Cucurella Contracted
to June 2017
Right-sided
defenders:
Benjamin Henrichs Contracted to June 2020
Mario Gaspar Contracted to June 2023…and last signed extension on
11.01.2017
Joao Cancelo Contracted to June 2021
Serge Aurier Contracted to June 2019
Kyle Walker Contracted to June 2021
Central
defenders:
Lucas Hernandez Contracted to June 2022
Virgil Van Dijk Contracted
to June 2022
Ben Gibson Contracted to June 2021
Leonardo Bonucci Contracted to June 2021
Holger Badstuber Contracted to June 2017
Midfielders:
Julian Weigl Contracted to June 2021…and last
signed extension on 21.12.2016
Wingers
/ Forwards / Strikers:
Alexis Sanchez Contracted to June 2018
Lionel Messi Contracted to June 2018
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Contracted to June 2020
Alexandre Lacazette Contracted to June 2019
Antoine Griezmann Contracted to June 2021
Kylian Mbappe Contracted to June 2019
Bernardo Silva AGREED TO
SIGN 5-YEAR DEAL ON 26.05.2017 (officially 01.07.2017)
Thank you, as always, for taking the time to
read. I won’t blog-post at the slightest suggestion of a possible new signing
over the crazy, Summer transfer window but might ‘stick one on’ occasionally
over the coming weeks.
Until then, have a great break from footy
wherever you are, whatever you’re doing and stay safe.
