4 players who need to leave Man City this summer

  • Man City will look to defend their Premier League title in 2024/25
  • Number of stars may look to leave the Etihad Stadium in search of regular minutes
  • England internationals Kalvin Phillips and Jack Grealish are at career crossroads
Phillips and Grealish are facing uncertain futures
Phillips and Grealish are facing uncertain futures / Richard Sellers/Allstar / Contributor
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Manchester City win so much that most of their players can't feel anything other than giddy, but that doesn't mean a few stars aren't grumpy at the Etihad Stadium right now.

While the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland and Phil Foden continue to attract praise at every possible turn, a number of players have stalled in Manchester due to a blocked path to the starting XI or simply not fitting into manager Pep Guardiola's ideals.

But which City squad members could do with a summer exit this year to revive their career prospects? Here are four players who need to leave the club this summer.


Kalvin Phillips

Kalvin Phillips, Pep Guardiola
Phillips' career has nosedived at City / Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/GettyImages

Sorry folks, no prizes for guessing Kalvin Phillips would turn up here.

Previously a feared England international with Leeds United, the tough-tackling midfielder has found minutes incredibly tough to come by under Guardiola and, with his 29th birthday coming up later this year, a summer exit is imperative.

He looked incredibly short on confidence during a loan spell at West Ham United but whichever club Phillips ends up at will be hopeful of helping him rediscover his best form.


Jack Grealish

Jack Grealish
Grealish was left out of England's Euro 2024 squad / Richard Sellers/Allstar/GettyImages

Jack Grealish has the tendency to blow hot and cold, such is his playing style as a forthright winger, but 2023/24 was an immense disappointment for the former Aston Villa captain.

The £100m man made only ten Premier League starts out of 20 appearances in the division, scoring three times alongside a solitary assist. Injuries weren't kind to the 28-year-old, but it was little surprise when he was left out of Gareth Southgate's England squad for Euro 2024.

Grealish could yet make a resurgence at the Etihad, but a move away may help the Brummie regain his creative streak.


Julian Alvarez

Julian Alvarez
Alvarez keeps on collecting trophies / Omar Vega/GettyImages

Only Phil Foden ended up making more appearances for City in all competitions last season, with the Argentine World Cup winner scoring 19 goals in his 53 games.

The 24-year-old has one of the most glistening trophy cabinets in modern football at a tender age but, given he has been linked with a transfer out of the Premier League in recent weeks, he may not be totally content with his role.

Injuries to key first-team stars like De Bruyne helped him rack up plenty of minutes, but Haaland's presence up top means Alvarez won't ever be the main man for City. If a club were to pick him up in the transfer window, they would be making one of the signings of the summer.


Matheus Nunes

Matheus Nunes
Nunes has spent a lot of time on the bench in the last year / Inaki Esnaola/GettyImages

The legend has it that Kalvin Phillips was benched so Matheus Nunes could be benched. Or something along those lines.

A late addition last year, the 25-year-old was rarely thrown in from the beginning in the Premier League but did at least make five starts in the Champions League, registering an assist.

The Portugal international may well have been the victim of Guardiola's judgement, with new City signings often being given a lot of time before they are eventually trusted to perform. However, the longer he gets such a minimal brief, the more frustrated and eager for a departure he could become.


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