Manchester City Plans to Meet with Top Players After Signing Four New Stars for £115 Million to Reduce Squad Size

Manchester City is scheduled to hold discussions with several high-profile players in the coming weeks as part of their efforts to streamline an increasingly crowded squad. The club recently made four significant signings during the summer transfer window, spending around £115 million, as they prepare for the upcoming Premier League season.

The team faced an early exit from the Club World Cup, losing 4-3 after extra time to Al Hilal in the last 16, and now has a month off before resuming training. City currently has 32 players on their roster, with 27 of them present in the United States during the pre-season tour. The club recognizes the necessity of offloading a substantial number of players before the transfer window closes at the end of August.

With the departure of director of football Txiki Begiristain imminent, former head of recruitment Hugo Viana is expected to oversee player movements. Despite recent signings, the club seeks to reduce the squad size, especially as some players are linked with potential moves away. Notably, Ilkay Gündogan is wanted by Galatasaray, while John Stones has expressed a desire to stay, despite not featuring in recent matches.

Other players facing uncertainty include Nathan Ake, who has experienced injuries over the last two seasons, and January signings Nico Gonzalez, Abdukodir Khusanov, and Vitor Reis, who have seen limited game time. Players like Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker, and Kalvin Phillips are also considered surplus to requirements. Meanwhile, James McAtee has attracted interest from the Bundesliga.

Due to regulations on homegrown players, City needs to remove four foreign players from their squad to meet Champions League constraints. The club is prioritizing new contracts for Ruben Dias and Rico Lewis, with negotiations set to begin soon. Meanwhile, Rodri, who has two years remaining on his contract, has recently reported fitness issues after recovering from a serious knee injury.

Despite criticism over his performance in a recent friendly, Ederson remains committed to the club. As Manchester City prepares for the new season, squad adjustments are expected to be a key focus for management in the coming weeks.