Manchester City they have three players out of contract at the end of this season, including one of the biggest heroes in the club’s history.
Pep Guardiola‘this side may be waiting for a season to forget Premier Leagueespecially by their incredible standards, but there are signs that they may have turned a corner.
It feels like the end of an era at the Etihad, in the sense that some legendary figures are past their prime, so major changes could take place within the squad during the summer transfer window.
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There are three players out of contract at City this summer – will they all move on?
1
Scott Carson
Contract expires: June 30, 2025
It’s almost a joke that Scott Carson is still a City player given how little he has played for them since joining from Derby County in 2021, having initially joined on loan in 2019.
The England veteran was brought in to improve the Citizens’ domestic quota but has only made two appearances in that time, warming the substitutes’ bench or not even being in the matchday squad most weeks.
Now 39, Carson’s time at City looks set to come to an end when this season ends, having signed a one-year extension last year. He will turn 40 in September, and the club will certainly be able to find a stronger domestic option between the sticks – perhaps someone who is just as happy to play a squad role.
2
Kevin De Bruyne
Contract expires: June 30, 2025
When you think of the best players in City’s history, it’s impossible not to think of Kevin De Bruyne, who set the Etihad on fire so many times. The Belgian is not only one of the true greats of the Citizens, but also one of the best players who graced the Premier League.
Now 33, the cracks have started to appear in De Bruyne in terms of accumulating injuries and his legs lacking energy, meaning the club have a big decision to make at the end of the season.
He is a midfielder outside the contract at that point, he too can sign a pre-contract with a foreign club now that the January window is open.
It feels more and more like his time as a City player is coming to an end. Kyle Walker requested a move to another country and it’s easy to see the same happening with De Bruyne.
Of course, there is an option for City to offer De Bruyne an extension if they feel he has a lot of life left in him, but there is a question mark against that. Keeping him on a big wage would be a big risk, as Guardiola would potentially feel the need to find a younger replacement to inject fresh blood into his starting XI.
If De Bruyne does indeed leave in the summer, there will no doubt be a special ovation for him at some point at the Etihad as City fans celebrate one of the most talented footballers in their history.
3
Ilkay Gundogan
Contract expires: June 30, 2025
Ilkay Gundogan’s return last summer was greeted with much excitement by some City fans given what an influential and iconic figure he was during his first spell at the Etihad. It was a move that made a lot of sense, allowing the German to return to the club for free after a short spell at Barcelona.
However, it hasn’t quite worked out as Gundogan and Guardiola had hoped, with the 34-year-old looking his age, not least after Rodri’s ACL injury saw City’s midfield lose so much of its dynamism.
As has always been the case with the German, Gundogan’s effort level can’t be questioned, but he simply isn’t able to cover the ground as effortlessly as he used to, and that has undoubtedly played a part in City’s struggles.
The former German international signed a one-year contract with the Citizens last year, but he also has the option of extending his stay at the Etihad for another 12 months. Recent report claimed that Gundogan’s future is uncertain, and at the end of the season, players like Galatasaray are looking at him.
Like De Bruyne, the time may be right for City to move him, allowing Guardiola to usher in a new era at the club by signing players in their 20s rather than having older figures in the middle of the park.
