Sentiment cannot play a part in the rebuild for Manchester City | OneFootball

Manchester City have resurrected their season, so to speak, over the past nine games. Their nine-match unbeaten run has seen them qualify for the FA Cup final and rise up to third on the Premier League table. A key part of City’s recent revival has been the form of Manchester City’s senior players. Players such as Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan and Mateo Kovacic have all played a key role in City’s recent run. But despite them all lifting in recent weeks, Manchester City can’t afford to be sentimental this summer when it comes to their rebuild. They must be ruthless with who stays and who departs the club this summer.

Who leaves Manchester City will be fascinating to watch unfold.

It is already well-known that Kevin De Bruyne will leave Manchester City at the end of this season. That is one key departure that will come when this season is complete. But who will follow him will be interesting to see. What can’t happen is that City’s recent revival clouds Manchester City’s hierarchy’s judgement. Standing still in the transfer market last summer led Manchester City to this season. The lessons of this season and last summer must be applied to the upcoming transfer window.

But who will leave Manchester City this summer alongside Kevin De Bruyne? That’s the question. Ilkay Gundogan appears set to remain at the Etihad for next season. In an interview with BILD, he explained that he has a year left on his current deal at the club. The question moves to who else will leave the club. Bernardo Silva, John Stones, Nathan Ake, Ederson and Jack Grealish face uncertain futures at this time. There will be roles for some in City’s rebuild, but others will have to leave. Who should leave Manchester City is a matter of opinion at this stage.

Despite Manchester City’s recent resurgence, they must remain ruthless with their squad build.

What cannot happen is that Manchester City’s recent revival clouds the club’s judgement in terms of who leaves. That would have a detrimental impact on the club’s squad rebuild. It already has in a way as we’ve seen this season as a host of City’s senior players looked past it or unable to cope with the heavier schedule Pep Guardiola’s side are forced to contend with. That stood out during late November through to January this season.

Whichever of Manchester City’s senior players leave this summer will be treated with the respect that their exploits deserve. There is no doubt about that. But the time has come for a host of City’s senior players to depart the Etihad this summer. That’s the reality of the situation and the nine-match unbeaten run Pep Guardiola’s team are currently on doesn’t change that fact. Despite the fact that it has been Manchester City’s senior players who led the way in recent weeks.