Manchester City stars Kyle Walker, Joao Cancelo, Aymeric Laporte and Bernardo Silva have all been included in the travelling squad for pre-season despite being linked with exits from the club.
City are travelling to Japan and South Korea, where they will face Yokohama F. Marinos, Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid as they continue their preparations for next season, but these four players may not play a part in the upcoming campaign.
Walker has been linked with Bayern Munich, Cancelo looks set to depart following his loan in Germany, Laporte has also been touted for an exit, whilst Bernardo Silva reportedly wants to quit for a new challenge.
Nevertheless, all have been included in City’s 25-man travelling squad, which can be viewed here, as Pep Guardiola ponders the decisions surrounding the future of four key players.
What should City do?
With Ilkay Gundogan, and now Riyad Mahrez both leaving the club this summer, City are already losing a lot of quality and experience.
Having two fullbacks in Walker and Cancelo, as well as an experienced centre-back in Laporte all leave in one window could be damaging to the upcoming treble defence, even if the likes of Josko Gvardiol are recruited.
Silva meanwhile, has been linked with Barcelona as he continues to eye up a move away, and if City play their cards right, they could replace him well.
Despite Silva’s quality, his desire to leave may make Guardiola consider a sale, as has been done in the past with the likes of Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling and Ferran Torres.
If City are able to convince Barcelona to part ways with one of their stars in exchange, such as Brazil winger Raphinha, then City can gain a younger player, and one who is happy to stay at the club, rather than a wantaway 28-year-old.
The others such as Cancelo will have to be assessed on tour. If there is a way back for the Portugal star at the club under Guardiola, it could allow Walker to depart with less of a negative impact on the squad.
