Manchester City Face Mass Exodus: Eight Players Available for Transfer as Enzo Maresca Prepares to Replace Pep Guardiola

Manchester City are entering a period of substantial transition, with the club open to offloading as many as eight senior players as they prepare to move on from the Pep Guardiola era at the Etihad Stadium.

Guardiola, whose tenure at City delivered unprecedented domestic and European success, brought his reign to a close at the end of the 2025-26 season. His exit has triggered what could become one of the most significant squad overhauls in the club’s recent history.

According to The Athletic, as cited by Pulse Sports, City are prepared to entertain bids for Nico Gonzalez, Rico Lewis, Tijjani Reijnders, Omar Marmoush, Mateo Kovacic, James Trafford, and Nathan Aké — a list that spans multiple positions across the squad.

Beyond those seven, Brazilian winger Savinho is reportedly in advanced discussions with Tottenham Hotspur. The North London club are said to have monitored the wide player for more than a year before making their move this summer.

Croatian defender Josko Gvardiol finds himself at a crossroads despite receiving a new contract offer from City. According to reports, both Bayern Munich and Barcelona have registered serious interest in the centre-back, leaving his future uncertain.

Ruben Dias has also been linked with a potential departure, with Real Madrid emerging as a possible destination. Those reports are expected to gain traction following confirmation that Jose Mourinho will take charge at the Santiago Bernabéu.

In terms of incoming business, City are in the process of finalising a compensation agreement with Chelsea to secure the services of Enzo Maresca as Guardiola’s successor. The Italian coach, who led Chelsea during the 2024-25 Premier League season, is expected to be confirmed as manager in the coming weeks.

Maresca’s appointment is also understood to be influencing City’s transfer targets. The club is reportedly pursuing Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliott Anderson, with the 22-year-old Englishman viewed as a long-term replacement for Bernardo Silva, whose own future at the club has been a subject of speculation in recent seasons.

The scale of potential departures reflects the challenge facing City’s hierarchy as they attempt to sustain the club’s position among Europe’s elite without the manager who guided them to six Premier League titles, the 2022-23 Champions League, and numerous domestic cup trophies during his nine-year tenure. Guardiola’s final season ended without a major trophy, adding further urgency to the restructuring process.