Much of the speculation has focused on which stars the big-spending Citizens want to sign, with Napoli’s £50 million-rated Uruguayan striker Edison Cavani and Cagliari defender Davide Astori said to top their shopping list. However, UEFA’s Financial Fair Play regulations and the Premier League’s squad size restrictions mean there are likely to be more exits than arrivals at the Etihad Stadium over the close season. No one knows who will be putting on the sky blue football kits as yet, but we are sure that many players will follow the exit door along with Mancini.
The replacement for Mancini will be forced to offload many of his players. Ex-Arsenal centre-back Kolo Toure, third-choice goalkeeper Richard Wright and forgotten men Wayne Bridge and Roque Santa Cruz will definitely be at different clubs next season, but where remains to be seen.
At least one of City’s big-name strikers will leave to free up space on the wage bill, although any offers for Sergio Aguero would be rejected. Carlos Tevez would like to return to Argentina, but none of the clubs in his homeland can afford either the transfer fee or his wages, so Edin Dzeko is the most likely departure. Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich are both interested in the Bosnian and could afford to match the £27 million the Blues paid for him in 2011.
Samir Nasri is known to frustrate because of the French midfielder’s inconsistent form and attitude in training, so the club will view favorably an offer in the region of £20 million from Paris Saint-Germain.
England centre-back Joleon Lescott will also be told he is free to find a new club, after losing his place in the starting line-up to Matija Nastasic, who has been one of City’s most consistent performers this term following his move from Fiorentina last summer. There will be no shortage of interest in Lescott, with Everton and West Ham both ready to offer him deals.
City may consider offers for Gareth Barry, who has just 13 months remaining on his contract, and Aleksandar Kolarov, who has fallen behind Gael Clichy in the first-team reckoning. Officials will also actively try to offload Scott Sinclair, John Guidetti, Dedryck Boyata and Maicon after concluding they have no chance of becoming first-team regulars.