Manchester City remain in the hunt to win three trophies this season, with a Premier League title battle with Arsenal as well as quarter-final ties in the FA Cup and Champions League to come after March's international break.
While Pep Guardiola and his squad will soon be preparing for a defining moment in their campaign, City chiefs are sure to be working hard behind the scenes on exploring ways of revamping the first-team squad as they bid to compete on all fronts once again next season.
The Citizens are believed to be targeting a new centre-back, midfielder and winger in the summer transfer market, while there has been plenty of speculation surrounding the future of a number of stars who could be heading for the exit door.
With less than four months until the summer window opens, Sports Mole takes a look at five Man City players who could leave the Etihad Stadium ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.
Ilkay Gundogan
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As things stand, Ilkay Gundogan appears to be the most likely Man City player to leave the club this summer, with his contract expiring at the end of the season.
The 32-year-old became Guardiola's first signing at the Etihad in the summer of 2016 and he has since been an integral part of City's success over the last seven years, recording 53 goals and 37 assists in 290 games, including a brace in the 3-2 comeback victory over Aston Villa to win the Premier League title on the final day of last season.
However, a recent report claims that the Citizens are open to parting ways with Gundogan this summer, with Barcelona boss Xavi keen to lure the midfielder to Camp Nou on a free transfer.
Gundogan – who replaced Fernandinho as captain last summer – has won a total of 11 trophies during his time at the Etihad, including four Premier League titles and four EFL Cups, and the German could lift more silverware this term as City are still competing in three competitions.
Aymeric Laporte
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Aymeric Laporte could be another set to depart this summer having been forced to settle for a squad-rotation role under Guardiola this season, starting just six times in the Premier League.
The 28-year-old has arguably become City's fifth-choice centre-back due to the impressive form of both Manuel Akanji – signed last summer – and Nathan Ake this term, along with John Stones and Ruben Dias.
With Laporte allegedly keen to leave City in search of regular first-team football, the Spaniard is said to have a 'concrete possibility' of securing an exit this summer, and the Citizens could use the funds generated from his potential sale to target RB Leipzig's Josko Gvardiol – a fellow left-footed defender admired by Guardiola and a host of other top European clubs.
La Liga giants Barcelona and Real Madrid have both been credited with an interest in Laporte, who has made a total of 171 appearances and won eight trophies, including four Premier League titles, since joining City from Athletic Bilbao for £57m in January 2018.
Bernardo Silva
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Bernardo Silva has consistently been linked with a move away from Man City over the last 18 months or so, and the playmaker stated in January that he would be open to beginning a "new project" away from the Etihad.
The 28-year-old has been a key cog in Guardiola's machine since arriving from Monaco in 2017, scoring 52 goals and providing 56 assists in 290 appearances for the Citizens, but it increasingly appears to be a matter of when, not if, the Portugal international will end his time on the blue side of Manchester.
Barcelona are understood to have held an interest in Bernardo for some time, but his £70m asking price could prove to be a stumbling block for the cash-strapped Catalan giants.
Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and boyhood club Benfica are also keeping tabs on his situation, and the Lisbon-born playmaker has aspirations of returning to the latter, where he began his career, before hanging up his boots.
The potential sale of the four-time Premier League winner, who is out of contract in June 2025, could help City fund a big-money move for one of Jude Bellingham or Declan Rice this summer.
Joao Cancelo
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It remains to be seen whether Joao Cancelo has already played his last game for Man City following his surprise loan switch to Bayern Munich in January after falling out of favour under Guardiola.
The versatile full-back started just three games out of 10 for the Citizens across all competitions following the 2022 World Cup – watching on as an unused substitute on five of those occasions – which ultimately led to his temporary move to Bavaria.
Cancelo has refused to close the door on a possible return to the Etihad, where he is under contract until June 2027, but Bayern have the option to sign the Portugal international on a permanent deal for €70m (£62m) at the end of the season.
Should the Bundesliga giants opt against signing Cancelo this summer, though, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Chelsea are all said to closely monitoring his spell in Germany with a view to tabling an offer ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.
Cancelo had been an integral member of Guardiola's side since his arrival in 2019, but the form of Nathan Ake and the emergence of 18-year-old Rico Lewis resulted in the full-back losing his regular place in the starting lineup – something he may struggle to win back especially if City decide to recruit a new left-back this summer amid interest in Ben Chilwell.
Scott Carson
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Backup goalkeeper Scott Carson is at risk of leaving the Etihad this summer as his current contract is due to expire at the end of the season.
The 37-year-old – who is regarded third choice behind Ederson and Stefan Ortega – has failed to make a single appearance for the Citizens this season, and he has only featured twice in all competitions since joining from Derby County in the summer of 2019.
Although Carson has struggled for minutes, the veteran shot-stopper has been praised by Guardiola for his positive influence in and around the dressing room, which could persuade the hierarchy to place a new short-term deal on the table.
