Three Man City players that would be harder to replace than critics think

Players and clubs like to take stock of their situations at the end of the season when they no longer have to think about the different opponents they are facing every three days. Inevitably, that brings news about where players fit into the plans of the clubs (and vice versa) for the following year.

Manchester City have already signed two players for the next campaign in Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez, while the chairman has pledged that there will be more than one new arrival in addition to those if all goes to plan. Given the fact that Pep Guardiola does not like working with big squads, that inevitably means there will be some outgoings.

At this stage of the summer, things are fluid: there are multiple players at the Etihad considering whether staying at City is in their best interests, and there are multiple players who are being weighed up as to whether them staying is in the best interests of the club; the more overlap, the less mess.

Also read: Man City boss Pep Guardiola warns Barcelona over Bernardo Silva transfer

Some are more likely than others - the manager's face on Monday morning was telling when asked about Barcelona buying Bernardo Silva - and some will be missed more than others. But while City are always keen to keep their squad fresh, players that can appear replaceable are in the squad in the first place for a reason.

Ahead of a busy summer for City, three players in particular facing uncertain futures would be more difficult for Guardiola to replace than has been suggested.

Nathan Ake

Life as a fourth-choice central defender is not what anyone in that position dreams of, even knowing you will get minutes across the season. It is perfectly understandable then that Ake has been linked with a