City to trim squad signals exits

Manchester City faces a bloated squad and a tight transfer window as Pep Guardiola signals exits to trim numbers.

City to trim squad as Guardiola signals exits

Manchester City used all five substitutes in the win at Wolves, a sign of a changing depth as injuries and absences thin the regular lineup. With Josko Gvardiol, Rodri, Phil Foden and Savinho missing or not fully involved, Guardiola fielded 20 players and sent a message about the squad’s future. Academy graduate Nico O Reilly came on in midfield ahead of more senior options, hinting at a shift in status as Kovacic returns from injury.

City are well stocked in midfield and defence, and Galatasaray have shown interest in Gundogan, adding external pressure to move players on. In defence, John Stones was withdrawn for 21-year-old Abdukodir Khusanov, leaving Akanji and Ake on the bench. Guardiola said the club has known the bloated state since last season and that the next two weeks will involve talks with players and agents to find solutions. City have already let James McAtee go to Nottingham Forest, with Walker and Grealish also departing, but more exits are expected before the window closes.

The episode at Wolves exposes a broader tension for City: a need to balance elite depth with the practical limits of a crowded squad. Elevating a youth prospect signals a future partly built from the academy, while trimming senior options risks unsettling a group used to broad competition for places. The market reality is clear as Gundogan, Foden and others edge toward the exit, even as City seek to preserve competitiveness for league and European duties. The challenge will be managing morale and match readiness while preventing a fracturing of the core, especially if preferred players leave the club’s salary bill behind.

In the coming days, the club faces tough negotiations with players and agents, testing Guardiola’s ability to maintain a cohesive locker room while delivering a leaner squad. Watch how the midfield hierarchy shifts with Kovacic's return and whether younger players can rise to cover the gaps without sacrificing the club’s ambitions.

Highlights

The window will reveal how City balances ambition with practicality.