Manchester City came into the 2025-26 season with big expectations again, as they always do under Pep Guardiola. This is a team that has dominated English football for years, winning trophies, breaking records, and setting a standard that many clubs cannot reach. But this season has felt different. Something has not been right. Even though they managed to win the EFL Cup after beating Arsenal in the final, the bigger picture tells a different story.
In the Premier League, Manchester City have struggled to keep up with the pace. They are sitting nine points behind Arsenal, and that gap has made many fans worried. In the UEFA Champions League, things were even worse, as they were knocked out earlier than expected. For a club of this level, that is not acceptable. The standards are too high for early exits and inconsistent performances.
Now, the talk around the club is changing. Instead of talking about more trophies, people are talking about change. Big change. A rebuild. A reset. Manchester City are now expected to make big decisions in the summer transfer window. Some players will come in, but more importantly, some players will have to leave.
This is always the hardest part of football. Letting players go. Some of them have been part of success. Some of them were once key players. But football moves fast, and if you don’t keep up, you get left behind. That is the situation Manchester City are facing now.
There are at least five players who look very likely to leave the club this summer, and each situation tells its own story.
The first name that comes up is Kalvin Phillips. When he joined Manchester City from Leeds United in 2022 for £45 million, many people thought it was a smart signing. He was seen as the perfect backup for Rodri, who is one of the most important players in Guardiola’s system.
But things did not go as planned. Phillips never really settled into the team. He struggled for game time, struggled for form, and slowly became a fringe player. This season has been even worse. He has made just one appearance, which is shocking for a player of his level.
To make things more difficult for him, new players like Nico Gonzalez have come in and moved ahead of him in the squad. That means Phillips is now even further down the pecking order. At 30 years old, he cannot afford to sit on the bench anymore.
He spent time on loan at Sheffield United, trying to rebuild his career, but it looks like his time at Manchester City is coming to an end. The club needs players who can contribute regularly, and Phillips has not been able to do that. A move away would be best for both sides.
Then there is Manuel Akanji. His situation is a bit different. Unlike Phillips, Akanji has actually been performing well, just not at Manchester City this season. He was sent on loan to Inter Milan, and he has been excellent there.
In Italy, he has found consistency, confidence, and form. He has been one of the key players in Inter’s defense, helping them compete strongly in Serie A. There is even a chance that he could win the league title with them.
Because of his performances, Inter Milan may want to sign him permanently. And from Akanji’s point of view, staying in a place where he is valued and playing regularly makes a lot of sense. At Manchester City, competition is very high, and there is no guarantee he would start every week.
So even though he is a good player, this could be one of those situations where both the club and the player agree to go separate ways. Manchester City can make money from the transfer, and Akanji can continue his career in a place where he is happy.
Next is Nathan Ake. Ake has been a useful player for Manchester City over the years. He is versatile, reliable, and has played in many important matches. But football can be cruel, especially when injuries come in.
Last season was very difficult for him because of injuries, and that has affected his role in the team. This season, he has mostly been used as a rotation player. He is no longer a first-choice defender.
Players like Marc Guehi and Abdukodir Khusanov are now ahead of him. That shows how quickly things can change in football. One season you are starting, the next season you are on the bench.
At 31 years old, Ake is also at a stage in his career where he needs regular football. Sitting on the bench is not ideal. His contract runs until 2027, but Manchester City may decide to sell him now while he still has value.
This is not about his quality. It is about timing and squad evolution. The club is looking to build for the future, and that means younger players will get more opportunities.
Then we look at Mateo Kovacic. When he joined from Chelsea in 2023, he was expected to add experience and control to the midfield. And he did show some good moments early on.
But this season has been a disaster for him because of injuries. He has struggled with an achilles injury and also a knee problem. Because of this, he has only played two matches all season.
That is not enough for a team like Manchester City. Availability is very important. Guardiola needs players he can rely on week in, week out. Unfortunately, Kovacic has not been able to offer that.
At the same time, the club has already moved on in a way. Players like Nico Gonzalez and Tijjani Reijnders have come in and taken over his role in the team. They are younger, fitter, and more in line with the club’s future plans.
Kovacic is now 31, and with his injury record this season, it looks very likely that Manchester City will consider selling him. It is a tough situation, but football does not wait for anyone.
Finally, we come to the biggest name on the list, Jack Grealish. This is the one that will hurt fans the most. Grealish joined Manchester City from Aston Villa for £100 million. At the time, it was a record-breaking transfer, and expectations were very high.
He had some good moments at the club. He played his part in their success and showed his quality in important games. But over time, his role in the team started to change.
He went from being a key player to being more of a squad player. This past summer, he was even sent on loan to Everton. That alone showed that he was no longer central to Guardiola’s plans.
Now, things have become even more complicated. He is currently dealing with a foot fracture, which has kept him out of action. Injuries have affected his rhythm, and at the same time, new players like Antoine Semenyo have come in and taken his place.
At 30 years old, Grealish is also at a point where he needs to play regularly. Staying at Manchester City as a backup option does not make sense for him. For the club, it also makes sense to move him on and bring in players who fit the new system better.
This could be the end of his journey at Manchester City. A player who arrived with so much excitement may leave quietly, but that is how football works sometimes.
When you look at all these players together, one thing becomes clear. Manchester City are not just making small changes. They are preparing for a major rebuild.
This season has shown that the current squad is not perfect. There are gaps. There are players who are not performing, players who are not fit, and players who no longer fit into the system.
Guardiola is known for being ruthless when it comes to rebuilding his team. He has done it before, and he will do it again. No player is bigger than the team, and no past success guarantees a future place.
The summer of 2026 could be one of the most important transfer windows in Manchester City’s recent history. It is not just about selling players. It is about resetting the team, bringing in fresh energy, and building a squad that can dominate again.
Fans may feel emotional seeing some of these players leave. That is normal. Players like Grealish and Ake have given their best moments to the club. But football is always moving forward.
The goal for Manchester City is clear. They want to return to the top. They want to win the Premier League again. They want to compete strongly in the Champions League again. And to do that, they must make tough decisions now.
Selling these five players may seem harsh, but it could be exactly what the club needs. A fresh start. A new direction. A new hunger.
Because in football, if you stand still, you fall behind. And Manchester City know that better than anyone.
